Benefits and Cons of Teenager Part-Time Job

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You may be surprised that numerous teens have part-time jobs. Some may have jobs as "baby sitters" (Check out:http://thejobsfor15yearolds.Com/babysitting-jobs-for-15-year-olds/), work for their family's businesses or do yard services. Numerous work for employers in store, fast-food and in other ventures. According to the August, 2011, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Dept. Of Labor, 25.4% of teens, age groups 16 to 19 held part-time or full-time work. About 10% of 15 year olds worked and predictably, this amount increases with age, specific to the laws established for child labor. The minimum age for non-agricultural job is 16. However, 14 and 15-year-olds may be employed for specific periods, outside of school hours, in jobs that do not interfere with their health and well-being. Teens 16 and older may work at any time of the day for unlimited hours. The percentage of working teens increase during the summer months, and more would work if the jobs were available during this current, poor job market place. (Read more:summer jobs)

In 2008, I carried out an anonymous questionnaire on teens in high school and in university freshmen classes. Among other information sought, were questions on their work working experience as teenagers. Lets look at my findings reported by high school and first-year university students, comprising 178 high school and 155 college students. For the first year college students, six out of ten students (60%) indicated they had part-time employment during their high school years, with a slightly greater percent of males than females recalling work experiences. Very lazy teenagers? I don't think so. The data speaks for itself.

The questions for students were different, in that I further investigated how many hours worked a week; (1) 10 hours or less; (2) 11 to 15 hours; (3) 16 to 20 hours and (4) 21 hours or more.

First lets look at the percentage of high school students who worked part-time jobs. Males: 50%; Females: 25%; Total Sample: 38%

Now let's take a look at the number of hours the high school students work. Males: 1. 52%; 2. 23%; 3. 11% 4. 14%

Females: 1. 78%; 2. 18%; 3. 4%; 4. 0%

Obviously, you can surmise that males worked part-time jobs at a higher percentage compared to females, and in addition worked much longer hours. There appeared to be no clear pattern as teens progressed from freshman to senior status in the number of hours worked, except for slight acceleration in hours for females. Contemporary teens are not lazy.

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 Negatives for part-time teenager workers: 

Numerous studies have been done to check out the negative influence of part-time work on teenagers. Some findings reported increased behavioral troubles, insufficient sleep, not enough leisure, propensity toward drug use, declines in school efficiency, plus increased psychological stress. Research consistently reported a relationship between the number of hours worked and downsides to the teen. The greater hours a week a teen works above ten hours per week, the greater the perils for teens.

 Advantages of part-time teenager employees: 

The advantages reported may be factors such as greater interest in school, fewer delinquency, increase in internal motivation, development of work values, adult supervision (often with both parents working, the part-time job affords the teen supervision), and less depression.

 In sum: 

Look around you when you when you go to the shopping mall, the grocery store, the car wash, the movie theater, the restaurants, and other venues; and you may see teens working. We need to monitor the positive and negative effects of teen work.

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