Why Your Teen Should (or Shouldn't) Get a Job...

Teen employment can be an opportunity to learn skills like time management or develop a work ethic—or it can be a nightmare. Here's what parents need to know.

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The teenage years bring countless changes as young children make the transition to adulthood. More freedom, more expectations, more responsibility—and for some young people, more work. With myriad interests competing for their teen’s time—friendships, school work, extracurriculars—parents may be wary about their child adding yet another obligation to an already full calendar. And though finding an after-school job can feel like just another box to check, a teen’s first job can actually create opportunities for growth and development that can’t be engineered in a classroom. While exploring the world of work might not be a fit for every teenager and their family, with a few pointers parents can be prepared to support their teen as they take on new responsibilities outside the home, as well as understand what red flags may indicate it’s time for a break. It's More Than Just a PaycheckWhile many teens may be eager to earn their first paycheck and experience the freedom that comes with a certain amount of financial independence, the benefits of work can go far beyond the monetary value many may assign it. Thomas Akiva, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Health and Human Development in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh and says that, in large part, research clearly illustrates the many benefits of teen employment.“Research consistently finds that moderate teen employment (less than 20 hours a week during the school year) is connected to a range of life-skills benefits including increased sense of responsibility, self-confidence, and time management skills, and improved communication with adults,” he shares. “It’s also connected to benefits associated with school: increased school involvement, decreased likelihood of dropping out. Also increased social capital—meaning teens can meet people that can expand their network in positive ways.” Akiva also notes that pursuing work outside their home and school lives can allow a young person to build not only job-specific skills but something more intangible too: confidence as they begin to see themselves as productive workers or team members. Linzy Andre, M.S.Ed, NCC, ACS is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Sunshine Advocacy Counseling and a Doctoral Candidate in Counselor Education at Syracuse University. Andre shares that teen employment can help young people navigate the milestones of identity and role development. “Most, if not all, that adolescents do is tied to their establishment of who they are and how they function (or succeed) in the world,” she says. “As we know, employment is a big part of our lives and how we are socialized regarding success. Teen employment can be a great opportunity for adolescents to try, fail, and try again with different roles and jobs. It can also be a great way to challenge the adolescent to view themselves as part of a team, or to respond appropriately to authority and hierarchy in the workplace.”Maria J. Coolican, Ph. D., a Clinical Associate Professor of Education at The University of Michigan says that for her two children, the most important lessons they learned from their first jobs were those they couldn’t have learned in a classroom. “Having a responsibility to someone other than themselves and their family or friends is a first for many teens, and can be a rather steep learning curve,” she notes. “All of a sudden, for example, they might not be able to attend a friend's party or outing because they are scheduled to work. Learning that they must keep those commitments, no matter how tempting another offer might be, is one of the most important things my kids learned as a result of working during high school.” Beyond learning the importance of commitments, Coolican shares that participating in the workforce allowed her children to meet and form relationships with people who they might never have known otherwise. “Another significant learning opportunity comes with working with all kinds of folks, especially folks with whom our kids might not normally interact,” she reflects. “My kids worked with other kids much like themselves, but they also worked with older folks for whom working in a restaurant was their full-time job. They learned so much about how people choose to live their lives––and sometimes about folks feeling as though they didn't have a lot of choices. They developed such a respect for so many of the folks with whom they worked.” “There is just no substitute for this kind of awareness of the world around us and the importance of understanding and respecting others,” she adds. Potential Drawbacks of Teen EmploymentAs with many decisions we make in life, there are both pros and cons when it comes to our teens pursuing a job while they’re still in school.Andre says while some of these drawbacks are issues many of us negotiate well into adulthood, they can be especially difficult for our teens. “As adults, we know about and struggle to achieve work-life balance,” she says. “This requires a lot of any person, much less a young person who is developing their sense of self, aiming to make it to or through high school, struggling academically or socially, navigating additional responsibilities at home (as a caregiver to grandparents, siblings, etc.), or many other potential stages of life personal challenges.” “Unlike adults, some adolescents are underprepared with life skills that make work-life balance a developmentally appropriate milestone,” she continues. “Adolescents with significant needs for support in their emotional, academic, social/relational development should be able to focus on those areas without the pressures of employment.”Akiva says that in particular, parents should be aware that the amount of time their teen spends working—especially if it exceeds twenty hours a week—can have negative consequences. “Working too much—twenty or more hours a week—can be bad for teens; particularly, if it leads to them not having time to study or complete homework,” he explains. “Working too much can also prevent teens from participating in extracurricular activities like clubs and sports or in youth programs, which can be very beneficial.”Ultimately, parents and their teens should keep in mind that, as with many things, when it comes to a teen job, quality is more important than quantity. “Not every work experience is the same,” Akiva shares. “The quality of the experience matters and the supervisor matters. If a youth is in a work experience with an unsupportive supervisor, that can have a negative impact.” When Work Is a PrivilegeFor some teens, the option to pursue a part-time job may be more of a privilege, rather than a rite of passage—and it’s not surprising that this often comes down to racial and economic inequality.“Rates of youth employment are consistently highest for White youth,” Akiva notes. “For example, in July of 2023, 63% of white youth ages 16-24 were employed vs Hispanic (58%), Black (54%), and Asian (50%). (from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; they don’t break out teen numbers). Youth with higher household incomes also tend to be employed at higher rates. So this is a place where privilege really shows and inequity replicates itself across generations. That is, youth from historically marginalized groups tend to have less access to beneficial employment opportunities.”Thankfully, Akiva says, there are programs that have been particularly developed to assist teens from these groups to pursue employment, noting summer youth employment programs (which can be found in many large cities) and workforce investment programs for teens. “Most focus on providing such opportunities to historically marginalized youth,” he explains. “These have shown great promise.”Red Flags Parents Shouldn't IgnoreSome teen work experiences may be overwhelmingly positive while others may be fraught with frustration and steep learning curves, so parents and other loved ones in a child’s life should be on the lookout for red flags that indicate that an employment opportunity is no longer a positive experience for their teen. “Parents, teachers, counselors, employers, and other adults within the adolescents’ support systems should be attentive to changes to the adolescents’ behavior, academics, social engagement, etc.,” Andre says. She emphasizes that there are specific signs that can indicate something is wrong, including mood swings (like increased irritability and/or anxiety) or other outsized responses to stress. Andre also points to behavior changes like decreased attention to school, friends, or household responsibilities that may also indicate there’s an imbalance––especially if you notice that they’re withdrawing, lashing out, or showing less interest in school activities. Another red flag to look for, says Andre is “engagement in ‘problematic behaviors,’ such as smoking, drinking, or using drugs.” All of these behaviors point to a need for help and perhaps a realignment of priorities for the teen––who may not be aware of the imbalance parents may notice. How Parents Can HelpCoolican notes there are a variety of ways parents can help ensure their teen isn’t stretched too thin with work or work-related stress—and it can even be as easy as listening closely to what their teen shares and staying engaged with them throughout their working experience. She encourages parents to talk with their children and actually listen when they share—even about more mundane details like who’s dating who at work or what the latest drama might be. If you’re tuned in to who the players are and what the workplace dynamics are like, you’re in a better position to help if needed. “Make sure that they are making good choices at work,” she says. “As you would do with school friends, learn about who their new friends from work are.” Parents can also take a more active role in helping their teens navigate workplace problems, which might be particularly helpful for teens who are still developing some of these interpersonal skills. “Help them learn how to talk to their manager when an issue comes up,” she suggests, noting that she found “rehearsing” conversations with her teens was a valuable exercise for them as they navigated their own work experiences.Coolican also suggests teaching your teen about basic professional behaviors like how to write an email to a boss or a colleague, and how to bring up difficult conversations, noting these are things teens often struggle with after high school, and beyond.“If they can get a head start on learning some of these things in a protected and age-appropriate environment they are that much better prepared for the world after high school, no matter what their next steps might be,” she says. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.

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