Posted on 05/17/2010 5:08:38 AM PDT by Bad~Rodeo
The share of U.S.-born teenagers (16 to 19) in the labor force — working or looking for work — during the summer has been declining for more than a decade, long before the current recession. In 1994, nearly two-thirds of U.S.-born teenagers were in the summer labor force; by 2007 it was less than half. At the same time, the overall number of immigrants (legal and illegal) holding a job doubled. The evidence indicates that immigration accounts for a significant share of the decline in teen labor force participation. The decline in teen work is worrisome because research shows that those who do not hold jobs as teenagers often fail to develop the work habits necessary to function in the labor market, creating significant negative consequences for them later in life.
Among the findings:
•The summer of 2009 was the worst summer ever experienced by U.S.-born teenagers (16-19) since citizenship data was first collected in 1994. Just 45 percent were in the labor force, which means they worked or were looking for work. Only one-third actually held a job.
•Even before the current recession, the summer labor force participation of U.S.-born teenagers was deteriorating. Between the summers of 1994 and 2000, a period of significant economic expansion, the labor force participation of U.S.-born teens actually declined from 64 percent to 61 percent.
•After 2000, the summer labor force participation of U.S.-born teenagers declined from 61 percent to 48 percent by 2007. Thus even before the current recession fewer teens were in the labor force.
•Teen unemployment — the share looking for a job — has also tended to rise somewhat over time. But the big decline has been in the share of teenagers who are looking for work.
•The number of U.S.-born teenagers not in the labor force increased from 4.7 million in 1994 to 8.1 million in 2007. In the summer of 2009 it stood at 8.8 million.
•The severity of the decline is similar for U.S.-born black, Hispanic, and white teens. Between 1994 and 2007 the summer labor force participation of black teens declined from 50 to 35 percent; for Hispanic teens from 52 to 37 percent; and for whites it declined 69 to 55 percent.
•The fall-off is also similar for U.S.-born teenagers from both high- and low-income households.
•Immigrants and teenagers often do the same kind of work. In the summer of 2007, in the 10 occupations employing the most U.S.-born teenagers, one in five workers was an immigrant.
•Between 1994 and 2007, in occupations where teenage employment declined the most, immigrants made significant job gains.
•Comparisons across states in 2007 show that in the 10 states where immigrants are the largest share of workers, just 45 percent of U.S.-born teens were in the summer labor force, compared to 58 percent in the 10 states where immigrants are the smallest share of workers
. •Looking at change over time shows that in the 10 states where immigrants increased the most as a share of workers, labor force participation of U.S.-born teenagers declined 17 percentage points. In the 10 states where immigrants increased the least, teen labor force participation declined 9 percent.
•We also find that, on average, a 10 percentage-point increase in the immigrant share of a state’s work force from 1994 to 2007 reduced the labor force participation rate of U.S.-born teenagers by 7.9 percentage points.
•The most likely reason immigrants displace U.S.-born teenagers is that the vast majority of immigrants are fully developed adults — relatively few people migrate before age 20. This gives immigrants a significant advantage over U.S.-born teenagers who typically have much less work experience.
•The labor force participation of immigrant teenagers has also declined, though it was low even in the early 1990s. This along with the similar decline for U.S.-born teens from all racial and income backgrounds supports the idea that the arrival of so many adult immigrants, who work at the kinds of jobs traditionally done by teenagers, crowds all teenagers out of the labor force, both U.S.-born and foreign-born.
•Summer is the focus of this report; however, the decline in the employment of U.S.-born teenagers is year-round, including a decline during the other peak period of seasonal employment at Christmas.
•Although there is good evidence that immigration is reducing teenage labor market participation, other factors have likely also contributed...(rest of report at http://cis.org/teen-unemployment
Every one of our kids had summer jobs. Did they need it? Not really. They wanted to earn money. The influx of foreign youth brought in by ocean front communities up and down the east coast has been going on for years. You have kids from Bosnia, Ireland and more working at beaches doing all manner of jobs. They bring them in because they need the help.
You have to do public service hours as well. Not sure total numbers of recipients, but they are highly competitive.
Child labor laws were not instituted to protect children like most believe, they were implemented during the great depression along with minimum wage laws and the retirement system as a way to lower the unemployment numbers and free up jobs for others.
If everyone started working when they were young the 20 year old boss wouldn't be a doofus, he would be a seasoned veteran of his trade with over 10 years of experience.
As for marriage, you are correct that a 13 or 14 year old doesn't have a clue about who they should marry... but that was the reason that for all of human history until the last 80 years or so that parents arranged marriages for their children.
Still being done. Talked to the people doing it last year. About half the detasselers are immigrants. The rest are kids, some as young as 13. Its the only job available at that age. The guy said it is hard to find kids wanting to do the work. This is in east central Illinois.
There is no summer farm work for kids anymore. Corn and beans are practically the only crops grown. Chemical weed control has done away with walking beans. Few, if any, farmers have livestock and even if hay is put up, the large bales which require machinery to handle are used and there is no physical labor involved.
I cannot tell you how much we agree on this subject. Repeal of the minimum wage and child labor laws as well as the repeal of all federal mandates on government schools would change the focus of childhood immensely.
Most summer employers want people to work from May till late September thus making summer employment for U.S. teens close to impossible
The government schools want to control kids and gorge on tax dollars. Kids of independent means think independently
I have seen immigrants take over many, many positions that used to be done by teens. Delivering papers, lawn care, fast food restaurants, small jobs in factories.... most of them now go to full time immigrants and I think it is not good that this is happening.
We need to start taking care of our kids.
That's funny. Did she get any corn? Sometimes it can be pollinated by the wind if someone nearby is growing it, not sure as it may depend on genetic compatibility. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure it tends to self-pollinate which was the reason for detasseling, to make sure there was cross polination (genetic diversity and developing higher-yielding strains).
Didn’t get any corn at all. We made fun of her for years for doing that.
She did help butchering I think, so she did get some respect.
What you are saying is ugly but probably true, unfortunately. I wish college weren’t such an important credential for many career paths, and it could be replaced by aptitude tests except for fear of “dispararate impact” in many cases. At the same time, I’m not going to sacrifice my kids’ futures for political reasons, not that my wife would let me if I tried. I’ll encourage them to take lots of A.P. classes and tests in high school and get their degrees sooner. Some Freepers have mentioned that their kids dual enrolled in college classes while in high school, speeding their path to a degree.
I can't disagree with the logic of any of this, but the labor aspect of this problem (illegal immigration) is a chicken and egg question, which came first. Over the last 30 yr in real estate it's been obvious that Americans didn't want the more menial entry positions, unless they were unionized and way over paid and compensated. As far as part timers from the high school ranks in the summer they were problematic at best.
Our business model has changed from having employees to now very few employees and mostly contractors. Almost all of the guys we use are European. They laugh at the native born Americans because they all want to be the "boss". On the few occasions I've recommended friends kids it's bit me on the backside.
I understand why contractors would hire illegal immigrants. As an employer do you want a work force that shows up on time, works hard and stays late or do you want a work force that calls in sick, is lazy, has a bad attitude and has no idea what quality means.
I want a legal work force. No exceptions.
Thanks for the link. Very interesting article. The more I read how Social Security has been raided for the benefit of illegals, other countries, etc. the more disgusted I am.
My first around-the-USA motorcycle trip took place in 1997. In low immigrant areas like Wyoming and Vermont, I noticed there were no Hispanics, Koreans, Middle-easterners, Punjabis, etc. to be found and all of the low paid jobs, from gas station attendent to hotel maids to short order cooks to convenience store clerks were all high school kids or thereabouts.
I remember gassing up in a town in Wyoming where the gas station manager was 18 years old and the 2 mechanics/assistants were 17 year olds. I was baffled that an 18 year old would be running a gas station. They were all working their butts off to earn money for their older trucks, all in decent care.
There are always teens who want money and want to get ahead, but the flood of immigrants, legal and illegal, have taken all of these jobs in areas where they have high numbers. The teens would be filling these jobs otherwise, and be better prepared for work later on. Instead, by the time people get their first real job, many have never been able to work before because the immigrants have all the low paying jobs.
The flip side is, many immigrants work like dogs, will do anything without complaining, and so are a better value than the teens are, who often have the usual American lazy streak. Not bad kids, but many immigrants are nose-to-the-grindstone and grateful for the opportunity to do it.
But that does hurt the ability of teens to earn money and to develop work attitudes that will help them later on.
That is the right way to do it. A bottom job is not going to help your children like a college education will. I agree that many Asians seem to understand this. I lived in San Francisco for 12 years, and I have yet to see an Asian homeless man. It doesn’t happen. I don’t know if this is culture, community, pride or preparation and support, but you just don’t ever see an Asian homeless person.
It is really a shame there are groups that can’t see the value to getting an education. It really sets their children up to be failures. No, college is not the be-all and end-all. We need ditch diggers and garbage collectors to. But given the choice when it is your kids, any parent worth their salt will instill their children with the value of a college education, and take it from there.
Good on you.
That would be "in Western nations" only. There are still many countries where children are expected to work from an early age, and do. I assume there are no child labor laws in China.
What one would expect. I've learned a few things the hard way. Oh, I know one for sure. Dogs mating, and my male was on a chain, didn't stop that hot-to-trot female. I panicked and called the vet because I thought they were somehow stuck together and was wondering if I ought to try to squirt the hose on those parts to separate them ;-)
She did help butchering I think, so she did get some respect.
Now that's something I wouldn't relish, can only imagine myself doing it myself if I or my family were starving. Then I could at least kill a chicken or a smaller animal, I think.
I wouldn't be able to do how they do (or farmers did) pigs, could possibly shoot a cow, but don't know how to gut and dress it, 'spose I could learn that on the fly. If I didn't have to watch the actual killing which I'd rather not, I could help with cutting up the smaller chunks of meat and preserving it.
Even castrating pigs their squealing can affect you. Some lady I worked with at a temp job having nothing to do with that, fainted from stress, I tried to help her, and she was telling about how she couldn't stand hearing it when pigs were being castrated.
I'm used to barnyard odors, doesn't bother me overmuch, but wouldn't want to clean out a pit because it's dangerous.
It was explained to me how cows are artificially inseminated. I guess the danger is you have to go in up to your elbow, and if the cow goes down on you can break your arm. The other part, where and how, would take some practice and knowhow.
Too bad us city folk don't know, especially the younger generation, some of these basic skills. At least I finally learned how to milk a cow without a milking machine. And gathering eggs is easy enough. Don't know how to churn butter or skim milk though with a skimmer. Could at least let the cream rise to the top and skim most of that off somehow.
This is the value in immigrants. They generally work their butts off and will do anything you ask, without complaint. That is, until they get into a government system and learn the ropes, then they become the biggest abusers, complainers, and defrauders.
I will limit that comment to only what I have seen, but in my career as a California state transportation engineer with Caltrans, some of the worst abuses I’ve seen from engineers are among immigrants who are permanently vested and can’t easily be fired.
I’m talking disappearing from work for hours at a time, charging overtime not worked, stealing work items to bring home, using state vehicles for private trips, etc. But hit them with discipline and they know every single union rule protecting them.
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