This summer, teens, graduating college students and people hit by the economic downturn will be competing for jobs.

It may be pretty tough.

Ventura County's unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in February, up from 4.7 percent the previous year. Though still relatively low, the higher jobless rate comes at a time when businesses are being careful about hiring.

A survey of hiring managers by hourly job site SnagAJob.com found that 49 percent do not intend to hire seasonal workers this year. About one in five expects summer business to be down.

At the same time, 93 percent expect to receive more or the same number of applications as last year.

Crystal Cierlak, a 25-year-old student at CSU Channel Islands, plans to look for part-time work to earn money toward college and her own place.

She's thinking about a grocery store job, which is something she could do in the area or at home in Lompoc. Cierlak hadn't considered the job market might be crowded and admitted that was a scary thought.

Summers mean an increased number of job-seekers as students look for jobs, but often there are more jobs as the hospitality industry, parks and recreation and other employers bring on more summer help, said Cheryl Moore, executive director of the county's Workforce Investment Board.

Moore said more experienced workers are less likely to seek seasonal jobs that require fewer skills and pay less, but the competition heats up for other kinds of work, particularly as high school and college students seek employment in their intended career fields.

For college graduates this summer, there is some anticipation that there will be fewer jobs, said Aseneth Cota, counselor and Transfer and Career Center coordinator at Ventura College.

Graduates are competing with employees laid off by large employers such as Amgen Inc. and Countrywide Financial Corp., as well as workers who have finished additional training or degrees, she said.

She expects the competition will stretch into part-time or lower-paying positions.

"Any time that the job market gets tighter, I think people are willing to settle for less," Cota said. "If someone is looking for a full-time job and they are unable to find one, they would obviously be willing to settle for something temporary or part time — anything — and maybe for less money."

The competition may encourage some students to continue pursuing their education.

Besides competition for jobs, another challenge is the cost of living in Ventura County.

Summer internship and entry-level salaries can make it difficult for those living on their own, Moore said.

Lindsay Noble, a CSUCI freshman, plans to return home to Torrance during the summer to work at the same law and property management office where she worked in high school.

There, she can live with her parents. Here, it would be tough to find a job that would pay enough to cover the rent, Noble said.

Mike Lemos, 24, will graduate in May from CSUCI with a degree in psychology. The Santa Paula native is moving to Las Vegas to work with his uncle in insurance.

"I wasn't really sure what I wanted to get into after graduating," Lemos said. This way, he figures he has good job security and is able to try living somewhere else.

Lemos has friends who can't find jobs in their fields of study.

"Jobs kinda seem limited," he said. He's expecting more opportunity in Las Vegas, both with the job and cheaper cost of living.

"Overall, it just seemed like a good opportunity to try and become successful," he said.

Moore said there are more people visiting the county's job and career centers seeking help with résumés, interviews, job searches or developing skills that might lead to a new job.

From October to February, visits per month surged from 30,000 to 38,000.

Some local companies have had more applications for their open positions.

At the Kohl's department store in Newbury Park, a lot more applicants are coming in because they have been laid off, are going back to school or need a second job to cover their mortgages, said Sally Leong, human resources assistant store manager.

Many applicants are used to professional, sit-down work. Some are not the right fit for a retail job where they are constantly on their feet, she said.

Leong has started doing "interactive interviews," where she takes the applicant around the store to see what the employees are doing.

"When they see the actual work that happens, some of them get really turned off," she said.

Even with the influx of applications, Leong said, there will still be spots for students this summer. In retail, people come and go, and employers always are looking for good hires, she said.

At Jersey Mike's Subs, business stays pretty steady throughout the year. The company looks for workers who will be available year-round, rather than ramping up for the summer months, said Artie Maidman, vice president of marketing and recruiting manager for JM West in Ventura.

Even with a weakened economy, the company's applications — for crew members to restaurant managers — have stayed pretty even, he said.

"I wish that the state of the economy gave us a windfall, but it doesn't," he said. "I would love to have more qualified people walk in the door because we are growing and expanding even with the downturn in the economy."

He suspects it may be more difficult for students seeking summer work this year because they have a set start and end date. Companies are more inclined to hire and train employees they know are going to be around for a while, he said.

A bright spot for summer jobs is internships — particularly those that are for credit rather than pay.

The number of internships is pretty much in line with last year and maybe even up a little at CSUCI, said Jay Derrico, career development counselor. He said many students are willing to take an unpaid internship if they get good experience.

Derrico also said the "summer-type" jobs, such as lifeguards, are still coming through his office as well. "Those things are still there, still needed, still being offered," he said.