The Cape Girardeau County work force increased this month.

For a period of about 2 to three months each year, hundreds of names are added to the list of available workers seeking full and/or part-time work.

"With the closing of area high schools for the summer months, our 16-to-21 worker brackets increase about 10 percent," said Jackie Cecil, local office manager at the Missouri Division of Employment Security office in Cape Girardeau.

"We don't have a special program for students seeking summer jobs," said Cecil. "But, we'll take applications from students and put their applications on file. This way, they will be considered for any opening that comes up."

Students seeking jobs have some other options talking with their high school counselors and/or the East Missouri Action Agency (EMAA), which provides a summer program for economically disadvantaged kids.

"We have a number of business employers who contact us each year," said Jerry Witvoet, a counselor at Cape Girardeau Central High School. "Most of the requests are for part-time employment."

Witvoet said the opportunities are made available to students through the school announcement process.

"When students contact us, we make arrangements for an interview," he said. "We provide employers with information concerning the students."

School counselors advise students on how to fill out job applications and prepare resumes.

"Several students have never filled out a job application or resume and we offer tips on this," he said. "We encourage students to visit places where they may find employment. We also talk about what they can expect during interviews."

Fast-food restaurants are a good spot to look for summer jobs, he noted. Reading newspaper want ads also provides some job leads. In a recent issue of the Southeast Missourian, a half dozen job opportunities suited for students were listed, including a two-week job for youngsters starting this weekend when fireworks stands open throughout the area.

Hardee's, McDonald's, Burger King and other fast-food restaurants utilize a number of students the year round and increase those numbers during the summer months.

"We've been hiring since schools closed," said a spokesman from Hardee's restaurant on Broadway in Cape Girardeau. "Our work force here is probably about 20 percent students."

Hardee's operations on William Street in Cape Girardeau, and at Jackson each utilize 15 to 20 student employees.

"We also serve as a kind of go-between for agencies like the East Missouri Action Agency," said Witvoet. "We get in touch with students who qualify for this program."

The EMAA program is sponsored and funded by the Job Training Partnership Act and Private Industry Council, said Robert Rueble of the East Missouri Action Agency, headquartered at Flat River.

"We place youngsters mostly juniors and seniors in high school in public, not-for-profit, work sites," said Rueble. "The program offers participants 24 hours a week for 10 weeks, at minimum wage."

Rueble said all the jobs which include work at parks, county courthouses, and city buildings were filled now, but that interested students should still register.

"Some students find higher-paying jobs and quit the program," he said.

"We also offer classes for students who need education enhancement," said Rueble. "We put them in classes for about 60 hours during the summer. That figures out to about six to 12 hours a week. The students then work 180 hours during the summer. They receive pay for the total 240 hours."

The program is open to students, ages 14 through 21.

"We have some college students in the program," he said.

EMAA serves seven counties. "We have a total of 250 jobs in the seven counties," said Rueble. "Cape Girardeau is one of the larger counties. We have about 50 jobs there."