Teenage employment has fallen by 17%. The amount of student workers has continued to decline over a 40-year downward spiral. Now, only one-third of teenagers are employed.

These facts paint the scene of high schoolers in the workforce today: teenage workers are few and far between.

These, however, are national trends. Here at Liberty, many students have jobs, whether it’s for the learning opportunity, furthering future goals, or spending money in their pockets.

“I’m working for the experience, not the money,” junior Leo Fan said. “The money is a nice bonus, but I enjoy the work.”

Having a job leads many students to learn life skills they might not develop until much later in life. No matter the job, these lessons will propel them through school and build their character.

“Having a job teaches some ‘common sense’ skills,” senior Lucy Hegenderfer said. “Especially working in food and customer service. The skills I gain are ones I’m going to use in the future.”

Alongside physical abilities—such as cooking food, managing money, and communicating in a team—many individuals also learn core values.

“My job at Frosty Barrel – an ice cream shop – has taught me a lot,” junior Casey Keegan said. “But mainly, I’ve learned to be kind and patient to everybody.”

Applying for a job often seems like the hardest part. But many places that employ teenagers are always looking for new people to hire.

Whether it’s a part-time or full-time job offer, applying does not need to be scary. For many working students, the process was easy and efficient.

“The managers at Frosty Barrel actually asked me to apply,” Keegan said. “I met with the hiring manager for ten minutes, and she hired me. The entire experience was easier than I expected.”

As students begin to finish out the school year these next couple months, several will start to apply. For those still deciding whether to try for a job, senior Peyton Coleman gives resounding support.

“Get one! There are jobs everywhere and no harm in trying. Going to work can help people get out of the mindset that they can’t do anything,” Coleman said.

However, teenagers already have a lot on their plates. Grades, social life, sports, and other extracurriculars, to name a few. For many, fitting in a job is simply not possible, and that’s okay!

But for those with less of a choice, the importance of a strong work-life balance comes into play. 

“I handle it by taking guided study so I can finish all my schoolwork during that class and don’t have to worry about it on the weekend,” sophomore Roxanne Stewart said. 

There are many ways to balance life inside and outside of school, and the process is different for each student.

“Planning and understanding priorities are so crucial. They both go hand and hand,” Fan said. “Students need to consider what is actually important to them in the long run, but I think most people only focus on the short term. You have to be very intentional with your time.”

Even with these things in mind, it can still be difficult to keep up with school with the extra time a job needs. Knowing when to take a break is crucial.

“I had a little bit of trouble adjusting back when we went full-time to school,” Hegenderfer said. “I did end up taking a month off to get on top of things and rediscover how to do ‘normal’ school again.”

There’s no harm in taking some time off to focus on school or on oneself. Sometimes it’s better in the long run, and can help avoid burnout.

“If you’re unhappy, then make a change. Be bold and talk to your managers.” Hegenderfer said. “Managing your time to prioritize things that matter will get you far.”

And, if worse comes to worst, sometimes it’s best to decrease availability or even quit. Some teenagers do this after summer, once school starts. Others do this once they know their school and personal lives will be picking up.

“I knew I had several things on my plate. The first thing I did was try to reduce my hours by talking to my boss,” junior Thomas Dawson said. “When that wasn’t enough, I put in my two weeks and was content with that being the right choice for my mental and physical health.”

Setting boundaries with managers can be scary, but it’s always a good step. Each person needs to learn what works best for them, and most managers will understand that.

The idea that teenagers need to maintain good grades, participate in extracurriculars, excel in sports, work, and have a good social life can feel suffocating. The reality is, while jobs can teach a lot about time management, teamwork, and the value of money, the pressures to get a job should never exceed the importance of prioritizing mental health.

“If you’re not happy where you are in your job or school, take the time you need. You have to prioritize yourself,” Hegenderfer said. “If you don’t have time for yourself, then your life’s not going to be fun or meaningful.”

Unfortunately, this message can be overshadowed by the allure of money and the desire to gain responsibility. Learning to balance this with personal needs is the first step to becoming successful.

“No matter what job it is, I think you learn to balance a lot,” Fan said. “Getting a job is just another way to take on more responsibilities. You don’t have to stick with it, and there’s truly no harm.”

While it’s normal to feel the pressures of getting a job, remember there is no rush to get one. School can be hard enough, and adding this extra responsibility isn’t worth crossing personal limits.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/06/why-so-few-teenagers-have-jobs-anymore.html

During the pandemic, teen summer employment hit its lowest point since the Great Recession