RALEIGH, N.C. — Now that many local high-school seniors have earned their diplomas, it is time for them to earn a paycheck.

According to a national survey, this summer will be one of the worst in 60 years for the teenage job market. But the outlook does not seem so bleak in the Triangle.

"It's not hard to find a job," said summer worker Ben Harris. "It's just a lot of people looking for it during the summer, since college kids are coming home, so you have to find it early."

Teens who beat the summer rush for work are lucky, according to Northeastern University. In the last three years, 1.5 million fewer teens found work.

According to a national survey, nearly two thirds of all teenagers will fail to find jobs this summer.

There are organizations in the Triangle designed to help teenagers find work. Greta Martin runs the Youth and Educational Achievement Center.

"Our purpose is to work with youth," Martin said, "help them find a job, keep a job."

Lebra Finch found a summer job she hopes to turn into a career. She is going to work for the

North Carolina Arts Council.

"I'm looking to after this summer to keep that job," Finch said.

She knows a good thing. A job, any job, is something millions of American teenagers will not find this summer.

WRAL asked teenagers at the Enloe High School graduation about summer work, and most of them had a job lined up. Martin said the Triangle has a higher employment rate than the national average for all age groups.