If you have/had a teenager, do they work? Did you work as a teenager?

 

Numbers reflect the previous generation had 70% of teenagers employed, compared to around 43% today.

 

Why Aren’t American Teenagers Working Anymore? - Bloomberg

My daughter has had a job since she was 16. She's now 20 and has 2 right now and an interview on Friday for a 3rd job because one of her current jobs is for the summer only and she wants to make sure she's covered when that one runs out. Starts back to school in the fall.

 

I was not allowed to have a job when I was a teenager. I did do a lot of babysitting for my sister though.

Edited June 8, 20179 yr by lawildcat

Myself and my twin brother cut a yard that took the two of us 4hrs to cut, starting in 7th grade. Once we reached high school, the deal for myself and three brothers was if we were in sports or other extra curriculars we didn't have to work. I only played football so weekends during the season and nights and weekends during winter conditioning. Obviously nothing over 20hrs was expected.

Also a guy I work with had mentioned, in a holier than though way, his children won't have jobs during high school bc school is their job. I mentioned that they don't go to school during the summer. He seemed quite miffed I brought that up. Unless my kid is going to be a Rhodes Scholar or actually have a shot at a scholarship, they'll have some sort of money making endeavor, especially in the summer

Got my first official job when I turned 15. Mowed yards for cash for 2-3 years before that.

Well, the article might state some numbers and show some data...but kids "studying" more over the summer? You have GOT to be kidding me.:idunno:

 

There is a myriad of reasons for this situation I am sure, but one I find getting bigger is many kids aren't willing to do work at the bottom of the pay scale any more. More and more, many kids think they should pull down the kind of money their parents make. They don't understand the time and experience and education involved in getting mommy and daddy where they are currently. It can be seen in the work force...kids/young adults coming out of college applying for jobs and expecting to make what seasoned, experienced employees are making that in some cases have been there for years. It's a sign of the times. I know it's an overused term, but it's the "entitlement mentality" of the new generation. Now, it's not every kid for sure, but enough to make a difference. That's my take anyway.

Didn't take long for the "this generation is soft" rhetoric to show up. :lol2:

From 12 to 16 I had 5 yards I mowed and randomly worked putting up bailed hay and setting tobacco. Around 16 I also got a job cleaning a local office after school one day a week.

 

Gave up mowing for after school and weekend job at Walmart summer before my senior year. Would work Christmas and summer breaks while in college.

 

Made my kids both had a deal, great grades means enjoy school and no job. Son still got a PT job keeping stats and running scoreboard for city parks dept. Daughter is 15 and straight A student, I can't see her working due to extra curricula activites...but she may, it's up to her.

Didn't take long for the "this generation is soft" rhetoric to show up. :lol2:

 

You don't have to like it, but it's true. I sit on interview panels and see it all the time. I work with dozens of kids and I would bet that I am around teenagers a lot more than you (though I don't know that as a fact). Now, is it all the young kids' fault? No, parents and the older generation share some of the blame for sure.

 

Heck, people are making a LIVING now giving training classes and seminars to corporations on how to deal with the millennial/new generation. That should be an indication of how different things are.

Didn't take long for the "this generation is soft" rhetoric to show up. :lol2:

 

Yeah no doubt.... "back in my day, we walked to school up hill both ways!! in the rain blah blah blah..."

I didn't work a steady job until I was 18. I played high level summer baseball which went right into football while I was in HS. I did occasionally work for my friends dad delivering appliances on weekends, and also did some yard work for my dad's friend who had a landscaping business.

 

In college, again, baseball prevented me from working much until my senior year outside of summers.

 

My daughter who is now 22, has worked since she was 16, and has held two jobs in the summer most of those years. She works her tail off, and is already pretty much self sufficient, has saved money like crazy, and is about to buy her first condo. She's way ahead of where I was. For the most part, outside of college, she's off my dime.

 

 

My oldest son, has worked since he was 16, despite playing 2 sports all through high school. He's now working and living in Richmond, in his junior year at EKU. Again, he saves money like an adult, and is one of the cheapest kids I know. He's well on his way to self sufficiency.

 

My youngest son, just started his first job a month ago at 17. He got a later start due to constant traveling for wrestling tournaments, but I expect him to be no different from my other two.

 

I know the study says teens aren't working, but I'm not seeing that. As a coach, I've lost more than a handful of kids to jobs, who would rather work and start earning money, than play football. Perhaps it's just the kids my kids hang around with, but just about all the kids I know have jobs.

Didn't take long for the "this generation is soft" rhetoric to show up. :lol2:

 

I think soft and entitled are a lot different. Certainly seems to be a lot that feel they shouldn't have to work for money.

When I was a teenager...

16-Kroger(fired after two weeks)

17-SIRS

17-18-McAlisters

19- Public Safety at UofL

 

I also spent two summers after high school working at Cengage.

 

Among people the I knew, It might have been an even split between kids who worked and kids who didn't back then.

Oh, and by the way, have worked since 8 years old, started priming tobacco/working in the fields, we moved from the farm and as I got older mowing grass, etc. First real job at 16 working fast food restaurant, been at it ever since.

Yeah no doubt.... "back in my day, we walked to school up hill both ways!! in the rain blah blah blah..."

 

Many kids have it so easy today it's not even funny, which can be both good and bad. Just like I had it a lot easier than my parents and had no clue what it was like to have to work as hard as they did just to HOPE to put enough food on the table to eat at night.