Fine work, and at least they were working. But, "Sales Clerk" is unlikely to be a permanent, career-enhancing job. So travel is fine for them, maybe they'll fall into something that they might make a living doing. At the very least, they'll have learned a lot and have some good memories to fall back upon.
Title of the article is a bit misleading. If someone was say, a newly minted doctor, and walked away from it for a year to tour Sub-Saharan Africa, that would be unusual. But kids drifting around? Not so much. I did a bit of it myself, and it's best done while young.
In Europe it was a thing all the young kids did. Work after high school, live at home, save money, and go on one or more very long trips. They would tell me they just spent 6 months touring my country more than I ever had. I’d be jealous.