When my brother was a teenager in the 70s, he mowed lawns. He had his own mower, did an excellent job, charged high prices, and dropped any troublesome customers. He made about $300 a week cash for 30 hours work in the summer. Adjusting for inflation, he would be taking in $1400 a week in 2018.
Growing up my father had a business and would hire some older teens or young adults for help over the summers and I don’t recall him ever struggling to fill the jobs.
“Adjusting for inflation, he would be taking in $1400 a week in 2018.”
I think it takes more than $1400 to equal $300 in the seventies.