file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the percentage of teenagers who are working in America is abysmally low. In the 1950s, almost half of teenagers were working. That work rate slid slightly in the 40 percent to 45 percent range when baby boomers and Gen Xers were teens in the 1970s, and 1980s.
That labor force participation rate crashed with the spoiled generation – i.e., millennials – whose work rate as teenagers fell to as low as 28 percent. In other words, only a little more than half as many millennials worked as teens as previous generations. (Now in their late 20s and 30s, they are insisting on the right to “work” at home, or in offices with transgender bathrooms.)
More recently, there has been a slight tick-up in teen work rates to one in three among Gen Z teens – but even this is a pitifully low rate.
Why does this matter? Because almost every study on wages and career success shows that the earlier an individual starts to work and learn job skills, the higher their earnings and career trajectory. Instead of working and learning a work ethic, today’s teens are playing computer games or attending climate change rallies.
The villains in this story aren’t the kids. It’s their baby boomer parents (and you know who you are!) who pamper their teens and act as if requiring their sons and daughters to get a job would be a human rights violation. The parents aren’t doing their kids any favors.
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Why should they?
they are taught from birth that:
– they are special
– the state will take care of them
– personal pleasure is paramount
– etc
– etc
– etc
Almost impossible to get a teenager to cut a lawn or shovel a walk! Where is the work ethic?
They don’t have to work, they are so entitled it’s not funny! They get handed anything they want, they don’t even know the value of a dollar. They can’t cook for themselves, do laundry, the have no clue because Mommy and Daddy will give them anything they want.
James is right, it’s not the kids fault, it’s their parents.
The country is screwed with this next Generation
Totally agree.
Outside job experience for teens is extremely beneficial. It gives them perspective and self-discipline. I know employers who won’t hire entry level workers who never worked in their teens.
Great article, well said! Should be in the school curriculum to work, as in eg Japan, where they clean and sweep their classrooms, starting at Kindergarten thru middle school.
No summer work, no money
Just the way it is
Well, you know what even some of our new employees that the village has been hiring. Some of them don’t even know what the hell they’re doing. It’s a joke. They have no business working in certain departments. You know they are. They’re only there because they know somebody, that’s how they got the job, friends and friends. In the end that’s gonna come around and bite your right in your fat ass.
I was a Ridgewood grad in 79. Times were different then. We all worked at roy Rogers, BK,etc during our teen years starting at 15. Times of change. We were not entitled then
Yes hire a bunch of nit wits, oh he is a friend of mine. All from the town of midland park.
The ”nit wits” are at least able to construct a grammatically stable sentence, however.
That is open to demonstration and subsequent debate.
The Village wont hire under age 16. That is a major issue. All the gate jobs at Graydon, landscaping jobs, food service jobs at Graydon, etc. are not available to teens. We used to start working at age 14 and the Village should be making these jobs available.
Small point. Most parents of teenagers are Gen. X now. The Boomers are mostly past it.
I’m a Boomer (RHS Class of ’80) and shoveled snow, cut lawns, painted houses and worked grunt jobs in at least 5 local businesses. And I made sure my kid worked, not just for the spending $, but for the acclimation, ethic, discipline and benefit to self esteem, not to mention keeping away from the more dangerous distractions the of teenage years.
same for me and my three kids