Benefits of Jobs for Teens
Part-time jobs for teens have become an acceptable norm. Child Trends reports that in 2017, 51 percent of youth between the ages of 16 and 24 were employed with 20 percent of these youth being enrolled in high school. There are several merits and pitfalls associated with part-time jobs for teens. Understanding them will help you make an informed decision about whether your teen should apply for a part-time job. Five important considerations are highlighted in this article to help you make this decision.
A job is an income generator
The primary benefit of part-time jobs for teens is the ability to earn an income. Your teen will learn how to manage finances, set financial goals, and create effective budgets. Gaining this sense of independence and responsibility proves beneficial as your teen inches closer to adulthood. It can also help offset tertiary-level education costs.
Core workplace skills are developed
Part-time jobs for teens help them develop the following core workplace-related skills:
- Teamwork
- Customer service
- Time management
Developing these skills at an early age helps your teen better navigate the work world later in life.
Work-life balance can be difficult
Striking a balance between work and life demands will be the greatest challenge your child faces. Your child will need to balance work with extra-curricular activities, assignments, exams, and college prep. It can sometimes be too much for a young person to manage. Therefore, they will need your support in finding ways to balance it all.
Increased chances of better jobs in the future
An article published on The Conversation website in 2017 cites a study that showed that “working year-round at the age of 15 led to a higher chance of being employed at 17 to 25, higher incomes at ages 17 to 25, and higher quality job matches at ages 21 to 23.” Employers often list experience as one of the job requirements because it is felt that fewer resources must be spent to train an already experienced person. Experience, therefore, works in your teen’s favor.
Working in the family business increases family bonds
Having your teen work in the family business can potentially increase family bonds if the right environment is created. The same study from The Conversation revealed that “teens who worked year-round for their family business between the ages of 14 to 15 had a better relationship with their parents which continued to get even better by the time they were 16 to 17.”
Final thoughts
Part-time jobs for teens have several benefits. While we want to encourage them to experience these benefits, we must also remember that they’re children first. They must have time to go to school and have fun. Help them strike the right balance so that they can experience future success.