It’s Labor Day, Let’s Talk Teens and Labor

It’s Labor Day, so I thought we would take a moment to talk about teenagers and labor. While researching to make this infographic below about teens in the United States, I learned that approximately 20% of teens ages 16 to 19 are participating in the labor force. (Source)

In this Bureau of Labor Statistics report, 54.5% of young people aged 16 to 24 are employed. It’s annoying that such a wide age range is lumped together, but it is interesting to note that this report specifically mentions that the summer months are typically higher months of youth employment, which makes sense given school.

Teens ages 16 to 19 often work because 1) they want to, 2) they are trying to save up for college or 3) they need to work to help their families provide for basic expenses. It’s hard to find good information about teens and labor right now because we are still in the midst of a pandemic, and a lot of the information especially from 2020 and 2021 reflect shut downs of both businesses and an emphasis on virtual learning. The years beginning in 2020 are statistical anomalies that we are still trying to figure out and process.

When discussing teens and labor, it’s important to note that the current Federal minimum wage is $7.25, which it has been since 2009. Some states have higher minimum wages, but the Federal minimum wage has not risen now in 15 years. If you worked 40 hours a week for 52 weeks you would gross $15,080. Meanwhile, according to the College Board, the average cost of a year of public college tuition at an in-state school is $11,260, and it just goes up from there. At the same time, I heard yesterday on NPR that grocery prices have risen 20% in the last 3 years alone. And I’m sure we are all aware of recent discussions about how unaffordable housing is, which combined with a lack of available units has caused an outright housing crisis in the United States.

According to Education Data.Org, “The total average student loan debt (including private loan debt) may be as high as $40,681.” Graduating college students can take anywhere from 5 to 20 years to pay off their college debt. I graduated with an MLS at the age of 30 and paid off my college debt right before my first child graduated high school and went to take on her own college loans to repeat the cycle. I was 48.

Recently, childcare credits that were initiated during the pandemic were ceased. At that time, the amount of children living in poverty in the United States had a profound increase.

In part because of the amount of Covid deaths in the early pandemic and because of growing amounts of long Covid, and an aging population in general, there has been some growing concern about a healthy, eligible workforce. In order to address this, some states are looking to roll back worker protections for children as young as 14. According to the Economic Policy Institute, “Since 2021, 28 states have introduced bills to weaken child labor laws, and 12 states have enacted them.” One of the roll backs I see frequently is the idea that we should work children longer hours with fewer breaks and in more risky occupations. For example, this is what is happening in Florida:

Florida lawmakers are debating a bill (recently passed by the House) that would eliminate long-standing state guidelines on work hours for teens, allowing employers to schedule 16- and 17-year-olds for unlimited hours—including during the school year—and eliminate meal or rest breaks. (Source: https://www.epi.org/blog/child-labor-remains-a-key-state-legislative-issue-in-2024-state-lawmakers-must-seize-opportunities-to-strengthen-standards-resist-ongoing-attacks-on-child-labor-laws/)

The same state that claims it wants to “protect” children by preventing access to books wants to make our children work longer hours – even during the school year – without meal or rest breaks. This, to me, seems like a lack of concern or care for children in any way. But it will make it easier for rich corporations to exploit childhood labor and make themselves richer off of the backs of our hungry children, so it’s a win for someone. Just not our kids.

In comparison, according to that same article, only 14 states have introduced bills to better protect children in the workforce. So half as many states want to protect children in labor as those that want to exploit them.

And without a rise in minimum wage or some ways to address rising school, housing, and grocery costs, these children will become adults who can’t afford to live because we don’t provide livable wages or real work/life balance.

When I was in high school, many years ago it’s true, I remember learning about the industrial revolution and the exploitation of children and how things like Unions and Labor Day and basic care for our youngest led to radical change and workers protections. I can’t help but thing about how many steps back we are taking right now. Who among us thinks that anyone – let alone children – don’t deserve meal breaks?

This Labor Day, I hope that we will all take a moment to reflect on our duty to protect children and create a world where they only work if they want to by working to decrease poverty and protecting educational access, and then only in the safest of environments and definitely with meal and rest breaks.

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