High school students seeking summer jobs flipping burgers or bagging groceries are likely to find more competition from older unemployed workers.

Teens often fill their summers and pocketbooks with entry level, low-skill and low-paying jobs.

But as the unemployment rate remains persistently high, teens looking for their first job now could be competing with a 50-year-old career changer trying to make ends meet.

Arizona's overall unemployment rate in April was at 9.5 percent. That compares with nearly a third of Arizona teens seeking work, but unable to find it in 2010. .

Arizona is eighth in the nation for teen unemployment, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Employment Policies Institute.

The group said 25 states have teen unemployment rates above 25 percent.

"It's just not that easy anymore to find a summer job," said Michael Saltsman, a research fellow at the Employment Policies Institute.

He said a combination of factors contribute to teenagers' search for summer work.

As businesses have closed or scaled back in the recession, there just aren't as many jobs.

And in many instances, employees are doing more.

Saltsman cited a growing trend in which restaurants and grocery stores train their employees in multiple areas so they can be called upon to do any task the employer needs.

"You start seeing employees whose job title is expanded," he said. "You'll see checkers doing the bagging and restaurant servers busing their own tables."

Then there are older people seeking work who are more skilled and don't require the training that teens on their first job need. Saltsman said the older worker becomes "much more attractive to the employer."

Nancy Hagadorn-Wallace, general manager of Glendale's Kiss the Chef, has experienced the increased competition.

When she placed a "help wanted" ad five years ago she'd get 15 to 20 applicants.

Today, she can get 75 applicants. A majority overqualified. A computer technician sought the restaurant's dishwashing position because there was nothing available in his field.

"We get more applicants in this day and age than we ever have, and my heart goes out to those people we have to turn away," she said.

In the tight economy, there isn't a lot of turnover, and employees are learning other positions at the restaurant to get more hours, she said.

Hagadorn-Wallace called it a "win-win situation" because her employees get the hours they want and if an employee is sick, she can call in someone else who knows how to do that person's job.

As teens face greater competition, some businesses say teens carry some advantages older workers don't.

Grocery chain Bashas' last week held three job fairs to fill 400 full-time and part-time positions in Phoenix.

Rae O'Connor, Bashas' human resources relations director, said while the sheer number of unemployed workers will affect teenagers' chances to find work, she doesn't rule them out because they often have more energy and a willingness to work later shifts.

McDonald's restaurants in Arizona also have been hiring, 1,000 workers last month.

Travis Heriaud, who owns a McDonald's franchise in Glendale and Phoenix, said he appreciates teenage employees.

"Training them is wonderful because it's often their first job and they are energetic and enthusiastic," he said. "The energy they bring is tough to find."

No matter the age, Heriaud said personality is the trump card, especially in the service industry.

"We can always train you on the system, but we can't change your personality," he said.

Amanda Richardson, senior vice president of product and marketing for SnagaJob.com, said although high unemployment continues to be a challenge for teenagers, the No. 1 attribute hiring managers are looking for in employees is a positive attitude. That's followed by the ability to work a flexible schedule.

"The willingness to pick up the late shift or work longer hours while maintaining a positive work ethic are valuable attributes for employers," Richardson said.