Pros and Cons of Teenagers Having Jobs

Gain Experience

• Teenagers who have a job gain experience that can prepare them for their future careers. Teens often learn new skills in their work and discover how a business or industry operates. This can help students decide whether they want to continue in that type of work after they graduate from high school or college. Jobs give teens experience in interacting with superiors, co-workers and customers. Some jobs give teenagers increased responsibilities and experience working in leadership roles.

Make Money

• Working teenagers can learn how to handle money. Instead of depending upon their parents for money to go to a movie or buy music, they can pay for some things on their own. They also get a better understanding of the value of money when they realize how many hours they need to work to afford a purchase. Parents and teens can discuss how to make a budget and ways to save money. Some teens work to save money so they can go to college or make a major purchase, such as a car. The lure of money, however, might tempt a student to quit school. Parents may need to remind teens that school takes priority over work at this stage in their lives.

Time Constraints

• Time spent working means less time to do other things during the week. This might mean a student has less time to do homework, hang out with friends or participate in extracurricular activities. Because teens often are in entry-level or part-time jobs, they might end up working days and hours that more experienced employees don̵7;t want. They might not be able to take off the days they wish, either, which could mean missing out on a family vacation. These demands may test a teenager's commitment to the job, something parents should discuss with their children before they seek employment.

Hazards

• Safety is a major concern for teenage workers. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, workers under the age of 24 experienced an annual average of 795,000 nonfatal injuries between 1998 and 2007. Hazardous working conditions, inexperience and lack of training contribute to a high rate of job related injuries for young workers. Parents and employers should not assume a teenager knows the safety rules of a job and should clearly explain safety equipment and procedures. Some jobs may be too physically demanding or expose teenagers to dangerous machinery or toxic substances. Parents should be alert to the effects of a job on their teen and guide them into healthy job choices.