In tight job market, teens should seek opportunities to build skills.

Byline: Stephanie Dunnewind

SEATTLE _ Teens who need summer jobs should start searching now, as the market is expected to be even worse than last year.

Experts say teens should be willing to take entry-level positions with a smile. Otherwise, teens who can afford to go without a salary are better off hunting for internships and volunteer work to beef up their experience for next year.

Given that high schoolers are competing with adults as well as college students for minimum wages, young job seekers need to be professional with resumes and references, experts say.

Last summer, the proportion of youths in the national labor force _ 69.5 percent _ was the lowest for any July since 1971, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And the job situation is expected to be worse this year, at least in some parts of the country.

"It's definitely not going to be a better labor market than last year, and it will probably be weaker," said Roberta Pauer, a state labor economist for the Seattle region.

"Competition for job openings is going to be pretty high. Teens are at a disadvantage always, let alone in a weak economy. When the labor market is poor, they suffer the…