Posted on 06/10/2008 8:24:34 AM PDT by Turret Gunner A20
Chances are they probably aren't working. And who can you thank for that ... the government.
Researchers at Northeaster University estimate that summer 2008 will be "the worst in post-World War II history" for teen summer employment. Only about one third of American teenagers will have a summer job and the rates are even lower for low-income and minority teens.
So why is this? One of the main reasons is because of government mandated wage increases. Economic researchers show, yet again, that increasing the minimum wage destroys jobs for low-skilled workers and does nothing to fight "poverty." For every 10% increase in the minimum wage, employment for high school dropouts and black teenagers falls by 8.5% ... and in the past 11 months alone, the US government has increased the minimum wage by more than twice that amount. But the government always knows best ... right?
WHAT'S YOUR TEENAGER UP TO THIS SUMMER?
Chances are they probably aren't working. And who can you thank for that ... the government.
Researchers at Northeaster University estimate that summer 2008 will be "the worst in post-World War II history" for teen summer employment. Only about one third of American teenagers will have a summer job and the rates are even lower for low-income and minority teens.
So why is this? One of the main reasons is because of government mandated wage increases. Economic researchers show, yet again, that increasing the minimum wage destroys jobs for low-skilled workers and does nothing to fight "poverty." For every 10% increase in the minimum wage, employment for high school dropouts and black teenagers falls by 8.5% ... and in the past 11 months alone, the US government has increased the minimum wage by more than twice that amount. But the government always knows best ... right?
Heh, no big deal. It’s kind of a rite of passage for engineers here. You have 2 semesters to do in the summer, this is my first. On the plus side I have an internship semester in the fall, so it’s not like I’m not working this year, just fall instead of summer.
I’m just worried about July and August when it’s 30+ degrees (Celsius) and 50%+ relative humidity. The school is air conditioned, but the beer in my fridge at home will be beckoning.
WHAT’S YOUR TEENAGER UP TO THIS SUMMER?
Eating me out of house and home!
Two teens in the Henkster household. The 15 year old is umpiring baseball games for the local youth league; he gets $25 per game, $50 if he stays for a doubleheader. All cash. Not a bad gig for a 15 year old.
The 19 year old, home from Purdue, is working summer maintenance for the Parks Department during the day (7-3) and has an evening/Saturday job at a pizza place.
The work is there if you want it.
Right now, she’s at the beach, after graduating with an advanced diploma this past weekend. She’ll come back to waitress at a little place down the road (that job doesn’t get hit by the minimum wage hike). She’ll enter Liberty University (no liberal swamp for this kid!) in the fall to major in business.
Yeah, a real under-acheiver.
May I buy a “k” so that my son can be “working” instead of “woring” on his Eagle Service Project? :-)
This is a problem on Cape Cod. The kids get out of college a month before the Season starts and have to go back in August. What happened to summer break being during the summer?
5 kids (4 teens and a 20-year old) only my 13 year old isn’t working, although even she will pick up a fair amount of babysitting.
My oldest is in an actuarial internship, the others are working as camp counsellors or at the local pool, from 20 to 35 hours a week. Granted the hourly rate isn’t high at $7 - $8 per hour, but the work is there if you want it.
None of my kids are real go getters either, but they don’t get an allowance and all like to spend money.
“In the end, I just want to be so wealthy via my booze, oil, real estate and political endeavors that my children do not have to work. They can hang at our Cape Cod summer home, drink, do drugs and maybe come into Cambridge for a summer class at Harvard that they failed or cheated on during the school year”
—Joe Kennedy, Sr.
My daughter (14) is helping take care of my sisters’ babies during the summer.
I had my own lawn biz as a teen, mower, edger and can on a trailer behind my bicycle! My Dad built it.
My 20 year old is in grad school, and taking some summer classes, proctoring some classes as a GA (which is a paying job) and working about 25 hours a week as an intern at a company (that’s an unpaid job...but necessary for his resume, etc.) He’s having a very busy summer, although not a lucrative one.
Lazy and jobless 16.5 year-old step-daughter is going to Daddy’s for the summer. C’ya!
Mine is working full time doing banquet, grill and cart girl at a country club. Making good money. Not her first job. Getting geared up for college. She put new tires on her car yesterday and shopped starter dish and cook sets.
My teen ager is working 3 jobs this summer. Busboy at a local restaurant, night stocker at the store next door and he already did part time work at his uncle’s auto shop. That’s why these teens cant find jobs. My son is hording them.
When he gets done with that he will go back to work at the local grocery store.
“teens cannot work in California due to the illegals taking their jobs”
That’s REASON 1.
Reason #2 is Lawyers, and POTENTIAL LIABILITY. Fast Food joints in my area RARELY hire under 18’s now, and even then, they can ONLY work the front lines...
20 year old staying the summer and working as a waiter this summer in a high-end restaurant in a resort town near his school. During the school year, he’s studying and working as a T.A. in his major field of study. He’s been working in one job or another since he was 15. Part-time during the school year and through out each summer. He’s enjoying the service industry now because he knows things will get a little more interesting when (knocking on wood) he gets his degree in chemistry.
16 year old daughter maintaining the same bagel/coffee shop job she has had since she turned 16 back in October. Now extending her hours since school has let out for the summer. It’s awesome! She’s even filling up her tank with HER OWN MONEY! Paying for car insurance? Well, no, not yet... But we’re working on it... ;-)
My youngest just graduated from high school last week and has no job prospects but since she will be leaving for college in a few months as well, it's not likely anyone would hire her at this late date even if there were jobs to be had. She has to go to her school's freshman orientation program next month so she plans to see what on campus jobs might be available for in the fall. I'm ok with letting her enjoy her last few months here with her friends since they will all be going off to different schools in the fall.
I agree with you on this. I have two sons, only 3 and 2 right now, but when they’re teenagers I won’t make them work as long as they pull their weight around the house and stay otherwise actively engaged.
My parents were great when it came to summers when I was a kid. When I made my intentions clear about entering the military early on my parents new I would be plenty busy once I graduated. They let me enjoy my summers. I knew if I wanted to borrow the car or ask for money I had to earn the right by mowing the lawn, doing laundry, etc.
The other great thing my parents did was let me sleep as late as I wanted. I was very active in sports and weightlifting, always training for football in the fall. I needed my sleep. I always remember my buddies who had to go to church early Sunday mornings being jealous when I told them I slept until noon that day.
My parents also made me keep up with academics through the summer, mostly through reading and then discussing the books. I also took many art classes during the summer. Great times.
My folks made out too. I ended up earning a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship for college. They didn’t have to pay a cent. I graduated 4 years later and immediately spent 8 years on active duty. My first “real” job was as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. I wouldn’t change a thing.
So...be careful how hard you push your kids to work a crappy job “for the experience”. I say let them enjoy themselves for those few fleeting summers. They’ll never get them back.
They can still choose to mow lawns, wash cars and do other odd jobs. Yes, the feds screwed up big time and their mistake will even trickle down to the opportunities I listed. But people must make their own success.
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