For most teens, getting a first job — whether it’s as a babysitter or camp counselor or barista — is an important step towards becoming independent. A recent poll by researchers at the University of Michigan explored the benefits of teen employment. It found that:

  • More than 75 percent of parents said having a formal job helped teens learn money management skills.
  • 70 percent said a formal job helped build teens’ self-esteem.
  • 63 percent said it helped teens learn time management skills.
  • 28 percent of those responding said that it benefited teens’ social life.

“An important part of teens’ health and development is using the teen years to establish independence and capability,” Sarah Clark, co-director of the C.S. Mott National Poll on Children’s Health, told TheDoctor.

If a teen cannot take on a formal job, parents can help their teen think of informal jobs, such as lawn mowing or babysitting.

It’s also important that a job make sense logistically. The poll results suggest jobs that are inappropriate for a teens’ particular circumstances — because they are too far from home or interfere with school — can negatively affect their physical and mental health, and lead to stress, lack of sleep and poor grades.

Parents can help their teen figure out what jobs might work for them. Clark suggested parents sit with their teen and a calendar to map out a schedule, and account for school, travel time and other commitments. If a teen cannot take on a formal job, parents can help their teen think of informal jobs, such as lawn mowing or babysitting. “Those ad hoc jobs may be more doable,” said Clark, a research scientist at the University of Michigan.

Helping Teens Navigate Work Conflicts
Forty-three percent of parents said their teen experienced issues in the workplace, including not getting as many hours as promised, working more hours or later than scheduled and having disagreements with coworkers or managers. “Parents should expect there will be bumps,” Clark said, but even she was surprised that nearly half of parents said their teen had experienced workplace problems.

Adults can offer perspective when problems do arise. For example, teens might not be able to make a distinction between a common on-the-job mistake and a more significant problem. “If things happen at work, teens might blame themselves,” said Clark. Keeping lines of communication open is important. “Parents need to talk with their kids about work enough to feel like this is a good experience for their child,” said Clark.

Teens might not be able to make a distinction between a common on-the-job mistake and a more significant problem.

If a problem does come up, parents and caregivers can help teens brainstorm different ways of responding to what happened.

The first step is making sure teens realize that conflicts at work are not rare, Clark advised. A way for parents to do that is to tell a story from when they were teens, because everyone has a workplace mistake to share.

The idea is to have enough of a conversation that teens have a chance to talk through what part of the conflict they need to own and what part might be the result of another person having a bad day, for example.

Clark advised parents against stepping in and trying to solve the problem.

Know the Labor Laws in Your State
Caregivers should be alert to the possibility of unfair labor practices. Only 29 percent of parents reported they felt very informed about teen employment laws in their state. Clark recommended parents check with state’s department of labor. They could also do an online search for “teen labor laws” and the state name.

“Not all parents understand that laws can differ from state to state,” she said, adding, “If parents think a potential employer is not adhering to those laws, that is a red flag.”

The poll's findings come from responses to a nationally-representative survey of more than 1,000 adults with at least one child between the ages of 14 and 18 years old. More than half of parents of 18-year-olds said their teen has a formal job, while more than 40 percent of parents of 16- and 17-year-olds and eight percent of parents of 14- and 15-year-olds said their teens have jobs.

The majority of parents said their teens use their earnings for personal items or savings, and almost 30 percent said their teens use the money for activities. Nearly 10 percent said their teens use it to help with family expenses.

C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is part of the University of Michigan Health System. The C.S. Mott National Poll on Children’s Health is published monthly and covers a variety of topics related to children’s health and well-being.