Let us talk about this issue. Kids working, perhaps at their first job. First
of all let’s focus on teenagers say from 14 to 18.
Employment is generally a good thing for young people. It
centers their attention on useful activity for which they get paid. They learn how to do things for others that
are useful. That’s why they can earn money from their efforts. They begin to
see themselves differently, worthy of getting paid. Learning something useful.
Doing something for other people or organizations, that gets them outside of
themselves at the same time.
Their earnings allow them the means to pay some personal expenses
so they are a little more independent of family. They may even be able to help
their families if economic struggles are present in the household.
This age group also is in the life phase where they explore
interests, future careers, social interactions and their consequences – a whole
lot of experimentation and consequences!
Some results are tragic. Some are definitely educational, but all are
worthwhile. Exploring the world of work is mostly a good thing. It helps them
learn what to avoid in the future and what to move towards.
Keeping them busy in worthwhile activities also reduces
their free time to get into trouble.
Most jobs for teenagers, however, are either volunteer tasks
(think hospitals and churches) or are low paid (think fast food and yard care).
Furthermore, and maybe most importantly, few jobs are available for teens in
most communities. Age restrictions are one reason, but training is a larger
obstacle.
By far, however, the largest challenge is that employers do
not think of this age group and intentionally make work available for them.
Thus kids go unemployed and have lots of free time to get
into trouble unsupervised. Not all of course, but these days most parents both
work outside the home and leave their teenagers with lots of free time.
Employers lose out as well. They are not getting to know the
latest generation of future workers and understand their interests and talents.
They also miss out on attracting those same young people into their workforce
once they have completed their education.
Older youth is our next focus, ages 18 to 29. They currently
are unemployed at the rate of 15%. [Millennial
Jobs Report, Generation Opportunity, Arlington ,
Virginia
Idle young talent, an army of them. They will fill their
time fiddling with electronic gadgets. They could explore service opportunities
at local institutions that need volunteer help, but how would they earn the
income necessary to support their own lives? And build a future?
Are we wasting a major portion of our newest adult
generation? If yes, this is a huge waste and ticking time bomb for massive
social unrest. If no, I’d like to know how these people are eventually being
absorbed into the world of work, meaningful work.
But my greatest concern is simply this: I don’t think we
know the answer to the question in the first place. And that begs the question:
Why is America
unconcerned with the how and why of career development among the youngest
generations? Is anyone studying this
area and finding usable answers and solutions?
All the policy makers in Congress and state legislatures
will do little good if this area of inquiry is ignored.
Who knows what is going on in this arena? Please respond if
you know something on this issue.
Some anecdotal information: I work with some teens (not a
huge number, but small in number) that have been caught drinking and
using/trading drugs underage. To a person they are very smart and creative.
Most have struggled with depression. Most have no clue as to what they will do
with the rest of their lives. Some do, but most don’t. With both parents
working long hours and their focus outside of the home, are these kids ignored
and disconnected from their parents? Do they have dreams of their future in a
positive or negative mode? What positive influences are they exposed to?
I’m just saying I think our nation has a problem here that
needs creative responses if we expect good results from these young people.
Once engaged I find them personable, caring and enormously creative. All
positive traits that they can build on for a fantastic future for themselves
and their society.
Meanwhile, how many are being wasted or imperiled?
September 8, 2014
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