How America Plans To Get Teens Back To Work

Small businesses across America - stores, restaurants, seasonal businesses such as ice cream shops - are still having trouble filling low-level positions, the kinds of jobs that would typically be filled by teen workers.
The labor force participation rate for workers ages 16 to 24 has plummeted over the past 20 years. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 caused another big drop in youth workers. There's been a slight uptick in teens returning to work since then, but youth employment rates have yet to rebound from historically low levels.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, the labor force participation rate among 16- to 24-year-olds has fallen from 65.8% in 2000 to 55.6% in 2022. To boost youth employment, lawmakers in at least 10 states have pushed bills to loosen child labor laws and protections to increase youth labor participation.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:44 Chapter 1. The history of youth labor
3:13 Chapter 2. The rise in labor law violations
7:02 Chapter 3. The debate over child labor laws
9:53 Chapter 4. What’s next?
Produced by: DeLon Thornton
Edited by: Kevin Heinz
Camera: Brad Howard
Graphics by: Christina Locopo and Andrea Schmitz
Supervising Producer: Jeff Morganteen
Additional footage: Getty Images
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How America Plans To Get Teens Back To Work

[@afaf6478]

Loved the quote that teenagers should not be responsible for keeping industries afloat with unlivable wages

[@samburgers3836]

why do teens need to be paid a “liveable” wage (im assuming this means 15+ dollars an hour?) when they’re 15-16 years old, can’t drive, and hopefully have parents that provide their necessities? also most of these jobs that teens work aren’t very labor intensive, things like working as a cashier or as cleaning personnel.

[@afaf6478]

​@@samburgers3836 They cannot get enough "supporting" positions usually filled by teenagers. They want loosened regulation to either lower the age (increasing worker pool) or increasing hours (turning part-time into full-time without benefits). Getting a full-time job in retail/hospitality/service is incredibly hard because companies do not want to pay benefits, yet they still want their businesses staffed at all times. Once the applicant pool of teenage workforce is exhausted businesses should logically adapt their operation or get adult employees (they usually want full-time because bills). But now we see increased lobbying for the loosened regulation that was put in place because businesses would go full ham on low wage workers if they are allowed

[@_Meng_Lan]

​@@samburgers3836because.. it's fair?

[@_Meng_Lan]

​@@samburgers3836also foster care stops at 16 and youre out on the streets. So those that really need it dont get it. Murica

[@TommyMac]

@@samburgers3836 Turn that around. Why is is okay to pay teenagers a lower wage simply because they are younger?

[@shes_lucy]

companies will do anything but pay workers more

[@kenofken9458]

Yes. Businesses like that should fail.

[@BB-km5nv]

​@@kenofken9458 more and more inflation then quantitve easing then lose control

[@PoringPoring951]

@@kenofken9458business that can't afford their own expenses will fail. So either owner gets no profit or shutdown due to no employees. Pick your poison.

[@joebidenisyourpresidentget2481]

@@PoringPoring951 False assumption, there will always be companies who can turn a profit , any other companies shouldn’t exist.

[@kenofken9458]

@@PoringPoring951 If a business model depends on paying absolute crap wages, we're better off seeing it fail. It contributes nothing of value to the economy.

[@CJSails]

Teens having summer jobs or working after school is one thing. However, trying to replace your workforce with teens is a whole other sliding slope. This stops unions from being formed. Correct wages from being paid. Allows companies to pocket more profit. This is another step towards the hunger games and or that Netflix show between.

[@bwofficial1776]

Unions are corrupt and outdated. Everything they fought for is now law. They served a purpose 100 years ago but now only serve to line the bosses' pockets.

[@dutchalwayshasaplan4956]

Even long work hours after school or work on the weekends is dumb in my opinion as a teenager. We already spend most of our time at school. Just let us relax and enjoy our childhoods.

[@ang5035]

The lady who said beefing up labor protection of kids is overkill is a heartless witch.

[@PraveenSriram]

I definitely agree with you

[@Scrunchie_777]

Agreed. Her name is KERRY MCDONALD, employed by the foundation for economic education, how ironic.

[@jedensnow1084]

If parents are okay with their kids working, why should the government stop them?

[@shmookins]

@@jedensnow1084: If parents are okay with their kids not getting educated, why should the government stop them? If parents are okay with their kids not getting medical treatment, why should the government stop them? If parents are okay with their kids getting abused, why should the government stop them? Children have rights, and if the parents fail to protect those rights, then the government can and should step in as protecting people is one of the government's responsibilities. As for the topic at hand, there is a clear difference between getting teens to learn about the job market and teens being exploited by the job market.

[@colincotterell3365]

@@Scrunchie_777 she's a corporate mouthpiece.

[@ahjgbhlahgaohgl]

That lady calling for reduced protections for children does not hold the best interest of children.

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

Sometimes less protections are better. If you coddle your kids and raise them in safe spaces their whole lives what will they become when they grow up? Not responsible, strong adults.

[@jewelvang8242]

​@@FirstnameLastname-ob1bpyes, kids should work as young as 10. They should grow up faster and become adults at 10. We can easily manipulate them into bad situations because they won't know better. Let's make them work during school next because their manager doesn't care if they're in school or need time to do school work. Let's keep on going down this slippery slope and lower the age to work. Less protection for kids in a workforce of adults sound like a horrible thing

[@NoSirNotTodayOrTomorrow]

@@jewelvang8242 I started working at 10, I was quiet happy with all the money had.

[@joebidenisyourpresidentget2481]

The death of LOW WAGE summer jobs in America. Even teenagers have raised their standards.

[@KJJ782]

Stop being cheap start paying employees… you want good labor pay them or buy robots. Good luck on finding help to repair the robots or maintain them. This is another thing where companies try and make the most profit and give the skilled workers a small piece of the pie. Soon workers will all walk off and only then will employers wake up about how much the violated workers rights. I don’t blame them for not working, things have gone up like rent, food etc. Many of these business people live delusional lives thinking the economy is in better shape when it’s down in the toilet.

[@es6544]

Teenagers know better than working. Almost nothing you can do will keep you going, you are better off learning to milk the system.

[@CJSails]

Lol! I agree with the death of Low wage summer jobs part. However, it's not that teens are raising their standards. The cost of living has gone up and continues to rise. Let's also remember that Some teens will be taken advantage of in the workplace and at home. Some of the parents out in the world are not the best.

[@KJJ782]

@@es6544 I’m not even on the system I actually work 2 jobs and I have 3 STEM degrees that’s how messed up the economy is…

[@LIVdaBrand]

💯

[@tanianixzsmenchsharefort]

This just shows you how dark & pathetic companies & the rich will go to get cheap labor. Literally targeting kids to work forcefully in harsh & dangerous conditions as well. Just pay more, and you will have employees. Stop being cheap & greedy. TEENS can work if they want to, but should never be the first priority in employment or exploit

[@stevechance150]

I worked in fast food when I was a teen. If I had a teenager there is no way I'd let them work in fast food.

[@tanianixzsmenchsharefort]

@stevechance150 Dang. I feel for you 🥺. Young employees deserve better from the world & adults. Us seasoned workers who worked young should protect them. I myself didn't work as a young teen in such companies, but I sure did learn working for a family member 😩🥹. Young teens need to be protected from family members, too. That's why I also can't allow young kids to work such adult audacity of pains. If they want to work. Sure, okay! Go right ahead, but the laws need to protect them well! Way better than us adults since they refuse everything to help those who really need help in any way.

[@sollywhirl]

Same here! I started working at 15. I had a somewhat rough childhood and had to pay my way a lot of the time. I'm talking car payments, gas, rent, etc. No 15 year old should have to worry about those things and I would NEVER put my child through what I had to endure. Screw these corporations.

[@SgtJoeSmith]

just pay more and youll have employees? im paying $60 an hour. where is everyone? i offeered the jobs to dozens of fast food employees. i post on facebook but everyone says it must be a scam and i get banned from group. so paying more dont work. i had to hire few 16 year olds instead. cause pathetic greedy adults are lazy and dont want to do those types of jobs. you sound greedy as hell by saying just pay more. you dont even know what they are paying. and its more that you pay your employees i bet. meanwhile you probably complain about prices and go somewhere cheaper that exploits foreign labor like walmart or amazon. why dont you throw your iphone away until the 10 year old working for $2 a day in china get paid more dumbazz

[@maythesciencebewithyou]

First time I saw teens working at a place like McD was when I went to Australia. First I was surprised how young they looked, but then I was told that they like to employ teens because they don't have to pay them minium wage.

[@amberspark9434]

In my experience it’s not that teenagers will not work, it’s that they won’t work for minimum wage under abusive conditions. Teens know places are desperate for work so either they can pay them a decent wage or treat them like a human being. Places that do neither are going to have trouble finding workers.

[@mattnowak2987]

Absolutely correct

[@UDONTCME111]

My uncle bought a FORD MUSTANG in the 1970s by working 3 summers in high school. NO JOKE!!! The older generation will never know how good they had it, they were spoiled.

[@CatholicTraditional]

Those 3 summers of work could’ve also paid for 3 years of college back then.

[@zeph_os]

While I'm not a teen anymore (currently 22), I can wholeheartedly say that the work environment teens had could be rough as hell. I had my manager try to manipulate me into giving her my paycheck since she lost a till, I had a different manager basically schedule me as shift leader even though it was way above my pay grade and standard, and I had another work me nearly 40 hours a week during school because they wouldn't pay a decent wage to get more workers on hand. It's extremely rough when people can't recognize they're being taken advantage of, and I absolutely support the progression of wages for these types of positions because it is hell

[@myanimeroom9350]

But why is child labor back knowing the kind of hell it brings to minors?

[@brass427]

If you knew you were getting screwed, why did you stay? I had a similar experience, gave my notice and left. Had another job in a week.

[@phoenixr6811]

So sorry 😮that this happened to you , unfortunately this can happen with adults too just the manipulation is on a different level.

[@fdm2155]

Yes, one of my kids worked at a neighborhood fast food chain location. It was to e in the summer. She worked a ton of hours be a study constantly called her when others nailed on shifts. We were 5 minutes away. Then school opened and they wouldn't stop calling g her even after we told then she wanted limited hours. She had to quit because they were so crazy. This was 20 years ago.

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

Kid, be grateful for your job. A lot of us don't have jobs at all and are facing homelessness and debt you can't even imagine.

[@kano-owoblow]

We actually sitting here talking about letting employers exploit kids for profit. No one said a kid is not allowed to work you just have to follow the guidelines.

[@a.m.doesit9347]

welcome to 2023

[@jasonpark1556]

Yeah, which is 2 breaks and 1 lunch. How exactly are they exploited? Its their JOB

[@braceyourselvesfortruth2492]

Guidelines can be heavy-handed and/or obsolete. It's ok to review them and try to make them better.

[@Chicago48]

It's not exploiting them. They're in training for the future. We need bodies, workers.

[@drakehooks]

you give these companies an inch, they take a mile...

[@psp785]

They don't want to raise wages that's why

[@stevechance150]

Exactly right. They really want workers at the ridiculous Federal minimum wage of $7.25 if Truth be told

[@ikurasugarbooty2331]

Right I can’t stand the when journalist cover a story and talk in circles. They’re greedy and are targeting teens b/c no adult with options is going to work at Wendy’s and be bullied by a manger who doesn’t even make as much as the teachers teaching those same teens. Once the kids go back to school, a lot of these places are finished. As they deserve.

[@fairlyironic]

My teenage neices both work long hours every day after school at McDonald's. One of them is now a manager at 16, which means that even in her off hours she may have to deal with work concerns. They both want to work to make money but i think that employers should not be allowed to give teenagers so many hours, especially during the school year. It should be capped at 16 hours a week.

[@bonniegaither3994]

Yeah, working long hours and going to school is going to lead to burnout at a very young age and that solves nothing. But kudos to your nieces.

[@seanthe100]

When I was working in high school there was a cap

[@bonniegaither3994]

@@seanthe100 , me too.

[@michaelmayo-vb5fl]

Lol you gonna pay her the rest her missed income lol

[@jonanddy]

@@bonniegaither3994 I'm pretty sure there still is a cap and it's just not being enforced because it's probably seen as a win-win in their eyes

[@aztr0k1d]

Once you start working, you usually don’t stop until your closer to your death bed. Retirement age in America is higher than our neighboring countries. Why get kids early into that torturing process? Kids deserve to enjoy life, humans deserve to enjoy life.

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

This is why I want to move to Norway

[@seanthe100]

If your parents don't have money, it gives you independence

[@user-ts2eu6rf6i]

I think it's okay for children not to work. But work is not torture. Also, enjoying life and work do not have to be separate. You can enjoy your work and learn from it.

[@kevinmiller8111]

depends on the age. I started working at 16 and there is no way I could have afforded college otherwise, not everyone comes from money.

[@aztr0k1d]

@@user-ts2eu6rf6i yeah depends on type of job & access to have the education to be qualified for a job thats not torture.

[@ninjanerdstudent6937]

I'm proud of the current adolescents for not tolerating employers' abusive working conditions. Adolescents and children should never need to work. They should be playing sports outdoors, bicycling, and reading books from the local library.

[@John_Smith_86]

They want to work, they may not need to

[@falsch4761]

This mentality explain generation cycle, good times create weak mean, weak mean create bad time.. Bad time is coming

[@TheGreatWasian_]

⁠@@falsch4761 that generation cycle is just an oversimplification of society. Look at the poorest nations in the world and how bad they have it. Do you really think it’s creating better men, or is it just causing suffering?

[@juliejackman2649]

I agree, but I think it can be a good situation if it's only one day a week for just 2 hours..I say this because of my autistic son and wanting him to be very gradual into working and see how he does. But even a neurotypical child could also gradually go into the workforce very limited like this 2 hour one day a week situation too. Just have to make sure the employer doesn't start throwing more hours at them.

[@TheGreatWasian_]

@@juliejackman2649 I do something similar to that. In summers, I do landscaping once or twice a week for usually 3-6 hours each day. It’s been working amazing for me tbh. I still get to have a restful summer and chill before I truly enter the workforce but I’m still getting a little bit of extra money and building work ethic. I think it would be a good thing if it was more of an option everywhere. It seems like most places will work you to the maximum hours or you don’t get to work at all.

[@novakaine127]

Wild idea - Teenagers 18 years and below, don't pay fed or state income taxes on their wages.

[@270Winchester]

Governments too damn cheap to do that but we sure gonna let every immigrant from around the world get cash jobs and pay for their housing.

[@safuu202]

Will never happen in a million years lmaoo

[@TheGreatWasian_]

I had a government funded job in college and the taxes that I had to pay were so reduced that I pretty much didn’t pay any at all, I thought that it was like that for all younger folk but I guess that it was just because it was a government funded job. I don’t think any students should have to pay taxes at all IMO, they’re already behind enough. Students need as much help as they can get

[@Josh-xo3ew]

Taxation without representation 👀

[@chiucheeyong]

Business owners would exploit that turning their profits into their children's wage (tax free)

[@scarecrow2275]

People have realized that we have value, we aren't going to work our asses off for peanuts anymore, pay us fair wages or watch your company sales drop like a rock, it's that simple!!

[@Katzeblow]

They need Child labour for these child like wages 😂

[@tres5533]

Nice! This is the Oscar quote.

[@SgtJoeSmith]

so you can pay child prices for everything you buy like $3 for an electric can opener or $10 for dvd player

[@martiantornado6113]

​@@SgtJoeSmiththat's called capitalism

[@SgtJoeSmith]

@@martiantornado6113 yeah and so is hiring a 15 year old for a 15 year olds job at a 15 year olds wage

[@MsDesignDiva]

What's wild to me is that this video is literally using the story of someone who did an employment program at 19 years old, as an example of why 10 year olds should be allowed to work . . . like that's insane to me. A 19 year old is a legal adult according to the law, far different than a literal child. And to the employers out there, of course the youth aren't putting up with the low paying work or bs from terrible managers anymore . . . they're realizing their own value and self worth and good for them.

[@estherbraga2341]

thank you! I thought the same thing! This is cruel and enraging!

[@SgtJoeSmith]

they arent saying 10 year olds should work. and that 10 year old at that mcdonalds was an employees kid that wanted to help the mom/dad out. not an employee they hired. the parent probably bought him a happy meal or ice cream or toy for helping. but youll have to turn to fox news for the whole story dumbazz

[@axxxonn]

What's worse is they used tokenism to appease to us common folk.

[@daniel25083]

And his type of work isn’t at all what people are protesting or republicans are pushing

[@wei8280]

Teens are just finding other better means of making money. Online. Influencers, streamers, etc. Much less labor intensive and they control their own work hours and best is not having to commute or leave home. It's not lways about money as much as work life balance. It's sad the younger teens are exploited due to lack of knowledge. Decision makers are too old and oblivious to ever changing social dynamics. They just talk n talk but ultimately don't do anything why should they, don't impact them, they keep collecting huge salaries and perks with no impact on their lives and family.

[@amberspark9434]

You’ll also notice a lot of the places complaining to be understaffed advertise paying minimum wage. Why would teens work there when they know places are desperate for workers and are willing to pay more?

[@icetrip2417]

Not all teens are influencers and streamers buddy😂😂

[@XBarajasX]

They want to be that but very few can achieve it. Is like music industry

[@residentevil4life]

im pretty sure part of the issue with minors working that is forcing governments to loosen regulations is probably the fact that there is probably a significantly less number of teens in the United States today vs a decade ago thanks to a decrease in birth rates.

[@thomasridley8675]

Remember when they said... "If you dont like your job, find another one". Well they did. And now they want them to come back.

[@Truth-of-the-matter]

I'd rather companies have paid internships for teens to help them decide which field they are interested in pursuing. Perhaps working at a company for a few weeks and then moving on to the next to have different job exposures. As a junior and senior I remember the pressure I felt to pick a college and a degree but who at that age really knows what they want? Work shouldn't just be about productivity but enjoyment and passion (which we fail at). If you want teens to work give them the opportunity to try several work industries of their choosing and help them decide what is best for them.

[@ssjup81]

This is why I chose liberal arts. You get a mix of everything and get exposed to multiple subjects. You can also switch your concentration later.

[@meganashlea]

I moved to a town that has a vocational high school option for this reason. I want my son to have exposure to many different fields before deciding college if that’s what he wants. Right now at 12 he’s thinking of being a veterinarian, next summer I hope to get him in a vet tech summer course with the high school. Learn a little bit more about a variety of animals and the care they need. See if he would really enjoy it before investing on that path. College was shoved down our throats in high school and I was 1 out of 3 in my graduating class that didn’t jump right in. I’m now a diesel mechanic… took a few years before that opportunity presented itself but if I was drowning in college debt I might not have taken the chance on it.

[@bubblelady8528]

Yes!! I'm a freshman in college and I would've loved this a few years ago. I was extremely confused on what to choose for my major (and I hope I don't regret it) because there are thousands of jobs out there and I've only been told in-depth about, maybe, 9 of them? We didn't talk about college in school outside of "just choose one it's super easy", I took a personal finance class and that was cool but otherwise it was always reading british literature books or "solve X + Y". I feel like 57% of what I've learned over the years doesn't apply to the real world, my world at least. Yeah being taught general knowledge is a good thing but won't I have forgotten the stuff I don't need by the time I'm into my career? It's a bit frustrating.

[@FinGeek4now]

There's a difference between exploitation and hard work.

[@ninjanerdstudent6937]

What I hate about the greedy corporations most is that individuals are expected to circulate money in the economy, while the greedy corporations only hoard the wealth.

[@samburgers3836]

no, corporations circulate it too, it’s just through their own stock buybacks!!

[@douglasw889]

There’s a balance I believe. A kid should be expected to do chores and basic low demand tasks and maybe having a summer job or let them work once or twice a week for 4 to 8 hours a week but at the same time let them explore their childhood and focus on their education

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

We tried that with millennials. That didn't work out too well did it?

[@dutchalwayshasaplan4956]

@@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp boohoo

[@sebastiangruenfeld141]

There's nothing wrong with getting a part time/summer job as a teen. Getting paid hundreds of bucks to work on weekends gives you a lot of financial independence as a teenager. Having been raised in a single parent household along with 3 siblings, me getting a part time job in my teens allowed me to help out my family a lot. But I didn't do it just to help my family but also to have some money for myself. Everyone who grew up poor knows that you can't do much with your friends even so little as to go the cinema.

[@TommyMac]

Nobody is saying that there's anything wrong with teens getting a part-time job. The issue is that companies are turning to teens so that they can pay them crap wages and exploit them.

[@maddominican879]

Different time. I used to work while in H.S but now i would let my child work more than 20 hours a week.let them enjoy their summer and child hood. They will work long enough when they get older. Companies dont care about their safety just the company bottom line.

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

Your generation is very different. We were poor and we were always I meant ALWAYS outside doing things. Playing basketball, riding bikes, exploring the neighborhoods, swimming the rivers, racing to our friend's house, anything you could think of. The possibilities are endless! At least they were back when kids actually played outside without parental supervision. These days kids can't even function without depression pills or cell phones.

[@PeteS_1994]

I'm in my late 20's and don't want kids at the moment but if I had teens, although it depends on who they are as people, I would be one of those parents that encourages them to study or master a skill hobby they are good at rather than to work. I know you can do both but I also believe that we do things best when we aren't doing too much although this varies between people. I think I need to be financially stable before I consider having kids anyway.

[@PeteS_1994]

@@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp Children still do these things in certain neighbourhoods. Can you yourself function without the internet nowadays?

[@GratitudeGriot]

i had my 1st job when I was 14 working at summer camps and an amusement park. i was able to work more hours and in the mall when i was 16. The law restricted us from working later than 8pm on a school night. i think setting age and time restrictions and paying a fair minimum wage is a good way to for kids to build skills and employers to find workers

[@timetraveler2518]

I am unemployed and 64. I need a job too. If you cannot find any employed worker, especially younger workers, to hire, then hire me as an aging hardworking ethic value worker. Older workers are more productive and honest than younger workers. That is a fact.

[@himonstercartoons]

Many employers don’t follow regulations, and the children are also worked way too much that it can severely impact their mental health and school performance. There needs to be a balance of school/work/home that many employers are not willing to accommodate for.

[@paz2941]

This is really true. My job in high school ran me into the ground while trying to finish my senior year. They didn’t care about my schoolwork or getting a break from so many late nights.

[@MrCubfan123]

The death of summer jobs and the rise of greedy corporations

[@BeowWulf]

So sad. It's a "slippery slope" that this may lead to employers not being able to exploit the lowest wage workers. Won't someone think about the loss of the time honored, exploitive employer practices?!

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

Don't move. You have a fly on your head. Somebody get the fly swatter quick!

[@munyumbamutwale2985]

Am I the only human being who finds it weird that Americans can say a 10-year-old is mature enough to have gender reassignment surgery but in the same breath say a 10-year-old is too young to work. Anyway, this is just a middle-class first-world problem because in the rest of the world, children have no option but to work. In my country you can't go a day without a kid knocking on your door selling their family vegetables during working / school hours.

[@FairBeautyEssentials]

Children will enjoy working and getting a paycheck. And then, as a result, they will end up dropping out of school and or won’t even attend college (because they will enjoy working and getting a paycheck)🙄

[@dreadhead5719]

We want to work, but when we apply for applications they're always ignored even if they needed employees.

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

It's because they're trying to meet diversity quotas. They need employees who'll submit and promote inclusion movements. Otherwise their company will fall on the rankings irregardless of how successful they actually are.

[@maxchase3570]

When I got my first job at an Italian restaurant as a 17 year old. I told them during the week I had to get out at least by 9pm but I could work as late as they wanted me to during the weekend. When I had seen my schedule they had me getting out at 12a during the week and I had to wake up at 6am for school but they didn’t care. I ended quitting after 3 weeks.

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

You should've stayed. Adults have the same issues. Long hours, low pay, hard work. At least it would've made you get used to the inevitable.

[@jewelvang8242]

​@@FirstnameLastname-ob1bpstayed and missed school? No, that's dumb.

[@nothere4089]

man youre dense.@@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp

[@dutchalwayshasaplan4956]

@@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp that’s what’s wrong with American society. It wants us to submit to the people in power and to not change society for the better.

[@CS-qc7np]

This is crazy. I worked as a teen. My son worked as a teen at a theater. He had an easy job, and only left because another company offered him more money. He used the raise to pay for senior year supplies, pictures, and events. Then he stayed with the company because they began offering tuition reimbursement. However, he has always known these jobs now are entry level. So, I taught him that these jobs work you and pay you like you’re entry level. But, my wife and I made sure that both companies followed the law, and let him off before curfew on school nights, didn’t give him more than the maximum hours for teenager workers.

[@megeek727]

Times have changed. My first job was in a hobby shop at the age of 14. I loved that job! Needless to say, the owner got all my salary back in purchases. 😀

[@HH-le1vi]

They're supposed to get more than your salary back in purchases or you're not worth the cost

[@summertime69]

"Loosening the regulations will lead to fewer violations because these vuolations are all for minor things." Thats... thats not how that works. Removing rules against a thing doesnt stop the thing from happening. And thats before we talk about how these "minor violations" are waved off as just working "a little too long". Gross.

[@Demopans5990]

A lot of regulations are written with blood. It is time to make that literal

[@lauracoutinho5478]

Teens should be able to work, but adults need to keep their best interests at heart. The work shouldn't be dangerous, so exhausting their studies suffer, demeaning in any way, and should help them gain skills they need in adulthood. But teenagers are clumsy by nature. Their limbs grow faster than their reflexes can adjust to! It's just basic fact. So they shouldn't have any rolls where clumsiness can put them or any of their co-workers in danger. They shouldn't have more than 6 hour shifts, and they shouldn't be going home in the middle of the night. Keep it reasonable, keep it safe, and there's no reason adolescents shouldn't be earning their own money.

[@jacobasuncion3132]

I think any other reason why is because a lot of peers who are the same age as me are starting to become self-entrepreneurs example I have a friend who does haircuts and another one who does custom shoe designs, I think they prefer being there own boss and employee

[@trildi]

Hairdressing is far from being an entrepreneurship. It's called self-employment and it's nothing new.

[@JL1]

​@@trildiwhen you're young you feel like an entrepreneur no matter what it is

[@beastleviath9356]

It’s definitely a tough balance. When I was getting into high school, I really wanted to get my first computer and $50 a week from a shift at some ice cream shop or what have you would’ve been great. The problem is, it’s hard to protect people (especially kids) from exploitative employers… perhaps we could require a short rights and safety course (OSHA could run it) for first time workers?

[@vinniephillips452]

Teenagers 16 years and above is a good age to have children learn what its like working part time. Children will learn so much like time management, responsibility and discipline. I learned all this back in ’79 and glad I did. It really helps a young person who’s about to enter an adult world.

[@CatholicTraditional]

Couldn’t get a summer job during my HS years despite trying (2007-08). Would’ve helped me with college and career advancement as it has been done with more fortunate kids.

[@glenndearle1703]

this is 2 different arguments. They go from a picture of a kid working a cash register at a tourist trap, to a kid working in a meat packing plant. The cash register argument, sure. a PART TIME job is ok during school. But an industrial job is not a place for a teenager and is simply an employer wanting to reduce labour costs. Because "to hell with your workers, immigrants, kids, whatever, as long as they're cheap". They need to be differentiated and dealt with form there. not lumped together so industrial jobs can slip through a loop hole.

[@jaeboston9228]

As far back to the 70s, in Maryland, a teenager as young as 14 can apply for a work permit. The work permit has guidelines that describe what you can and cannot do. I can't speak for other states but I started working at 14.

[@ethanriscovallez4323]

Yes, same here, but there were restrictions, and thats what the coporate shills want to get rid of.

[@PatriciaMary11]

Success usually comes to those who are too busy looking for it. If you're willing to do business or become an investor then you will be rich.

[@AylaAzalea8]

How can I make more profit from stock market🤦🏾‍♂️?

[@TheoXavier-5]

If you're unsure about investing or need personalized guidance, consider consulting with a financial advisor or investment professional. They can provide tailored advice based on your individual needs and goals.

[@AustinSean-]

I would suggest holding, but there are better options like day trading

[@RonaldBrian243]

But trading gets risky and a lot of people loose funds to it.

[@GreysonRowan-]

That's true, but the risks are minimal when you make those moves with the guidance of a professional. People still make huge ROI on a daily

[@sabrinawavvy]

Backed in 2015-2016 my junior and senior year of hs and the summer going into my freshman year of college (I was still 17 then), I WANTED to work. I applied everywhere and went in person to apply. But no one wanted to hire me because I lacked experience. How am I supposed to have experience if no one would hire me to gain experience? I volunteered at various places since I was 13 years old, what experience were they expecting a teenager to have? 🙃😒

[@dutchalwayshasaplan4956]

“I WANTED to work” 🤓

[@sabrinawavvy]

@@dutchalwayshasaplan4956 and what’s this suppose to mean …..

[@ericclark133]

While 10 years old is too young to be in formal employment, kids should be in part time, low-skilled roles by 16. It’s where they learn about work - the schools can’t teach them, it has to be learned on the job. It’s better they make the mistakes of new workers while still living with their parents than if they’re on their own, where the consequences are much more serious. My brother, an accounting manager, won’t hire people if they don’t have any work history - even a job like McDonalds meets his requirements. That’s because he says people who have no work experience make terrible employees - he wants to teach them how to do taxes, not how to conduct themselves at work - which is what a McDonalds job teaches a kid.

[@CatholicTraditional]

Believe it or not, college admissions boards want to see HS work.

[@awesomebrotherhood7698]

I worked not because I had too, I had enough time studying at school, enough to read books before I went to sleep, enough time socializing at school and after and especially during the weekdays. But I worked because it taught be to be independent now, far better than anyone among my peers and all legally

[@terrestrialaccessnetwork8456]

I mowed lawns and watered neighbors plants who were on vacation and made way more in my teens than my friends working fast food. I also worked about 1/10 the amount of hours as they did

[@moomoomoo309]

This video is about child labor laws, so why the heck did they bring up Elijah? He was 19 when he was in the program, so child labor laws wouldn't even apply to him! No shade to the guy, but he's not a child.

[@1237tnb]

Rolling back labor laws will only hurt the most impoverished families. I imagine that most 16-24 year olds aren't working these jobs because they have better things to do such as academic extracurriculars and other money making endeavors.

[@rickstevenson9585]

Teens don’t even want a driver’s license anymore let alone a job 😂

[@HealthElites]

Love your reports

[@jeretso]

Amazon is winning. The malls are filled with empty storefronts. A kid cannot work in a restaurant with alcohol so we used to get retail jobs. Now the mall is dying.

[@keyemku6399]

If businesses want to have employees, they should try hiring people. Everyone is talking about the labor shortage, but no one is talking about how millions of young people are applying to hundreds of entry level jobs a year and getting rejected from all of them. All these businesses who claim they have a labor shortage have no intention of hiring anyone

[@yamibakura21]

The real question no one is asking is that if teens are in the workforce collecting a paycheck and withholding appropriate monies for fed and state income tax, should they have a say in their community, state, federal government? ie: voting 👀

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

No. I was once a college student. The truth is not even 21-year olds have enough experience in life to be able to vote. They think they know all the solutions to everything when in reality the movements brainwashed people to being loyal to certain agendas rather than taking a neutral approach to society's issues.

[@stevechance150]

Capitalism would have us allowing twelve year olds to work in factories. "In Profits We Trust".

[@KJJ782]

Yup usually those people are the Trump supporters, they care less about workers, they violate rights and could care less about workers health, they care more about their profits. Sick people these businesses

[@mikebostic9518]

People including teenagers aren't taking jobs with low pay anymore. Shame on republican governors for rolling back child labor laws.

[@eliaschevette]

I started work at 13 in a McDonalds. Let me tell you something the worst thing you can do to your child is get them a job while they are in High School. Give them the chance to do after school things and have hobbies. That will help them find themselves and maybe find a real career. Instead you are just training your kid to be a good slave for some corporation and risking that some abuser targets your child.

[@bcase5328]

There is a big difference between employing a post eighteen year old and employing an under sixteen year old minor. It is the employment of under sixteen year olds for which duties under what kind of supervision that is the question, especially when hiring under fourteen year olds.

[@domingodelgado3944]

There’s nothing wrong with a 16 or 17 year old working if they choose to. I would say If they don’t play sports or after school activities the NEED to get a job. That’s to old to be laying around just playing video games or on tik tock all day. Work teaches you skills and social skills you can’t learn in school that you will take with you later in life.

[@shannonmaria22]

Agreed. I think summer jobs are great for high schoolers… but they shouldn’t be expected to work during the school year. Better to focus on academics and extracurriculars. There’s always weekend side gigs like babysitting or mowing lawns that teens can do. And only working full-time during the summer can teach them the importance of saving.

[@sandraaviles-wilkes7036]

I don’t know why our economy depends on OUR TEENS to work? Childhood is the shortest period of our lives. So why would you take that away from them? They get to be kids from 1-17 because 18 and 19 you’re considered an adult already in our society. Everyone has a different perspective on the topic, but I think our economy shouldn’t depend on teenagers working. They will have the rest of their lives to work once they are done with their education. BURNOUT IS A REAL THING, it’s a topic that’s not discussed or even acknowledged.

[@AdeleiTeillana]

I started working at 13, just a few hours a week. I continued working all the way through high school and college. It taught me to be more responsible in so many ways, including with my money. As long as it's not a dangerous job and the hours are capped in consideration of their studies, I think teens should be allowed to work. One of the biggest complaints people have about the school system is that it doesn't teach real life skills like how to manage your money. While working doesn't 100% do that, it does at least give teens some real world experience in managing money, especially if parents make them responsible for buying their own toiletries, clothing, or whatever category the parent picks. The parent is still there as a backup or safety net, the teen isn't yet worrying about a mortgage or car payment, but they do have to learn to budget so that they can afford the things they need and still have some left over to spend on things they want. And working also teaches other skills such as time management, getting along with others in a work place, how to have a good work ethic, etc.

[@Bat_Boy]

“Well, the world needs ditch diggers too” - Judge Smails 🤣

[@Aeternum_Gaming]

companies would rather pay literal kids just so they don't have to pay adults a wage they can survive on.

[@StreetCycleSoldier]

Gotta love CNBC DEI hiring strategy... "We axed several questions of these companies"

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

When I was unemployed I've applied to countless positions and never received a single call back. I later realized there is a reason these companies have awful service and get orders wrong all the time. It's because they want young inexperienced teens who'll submit to whatever woke propoganda the executives push on them, accept whatever dirt poor wages, and put in just enough effort to run the business without needing much training in the service or quality. They always get my order incorrect! I have years of experience in the kitchen and service industries but none of these places will hire. I say if they aren't willing to hire adults like me, let them fail! Let them go into bankruptcy! We don't need these places who practice age-discrimination and promote wokeness on our kids!

[@RossMalagarie]

how can unemployment be at a 50yr low but at the same time everyone is complaining about how they are short staffed? We need people in the health care industry, the truck driving industry, the food service industry, hell EVERY INDUSTRY, but we are at a 50 yr low for unemployment? The math is not adding up

[@Carmenlovez]

There are some states that make it IMPOSSIBLE to get a job as a teen. When I was in Washington State they had so many restrictions that I didn’t even feel like applying at that point

[@doctordl7757]

Perhaps these summer jobs can't pay a decent wage for them to even save for college unlike baby boomers whom had summer jobs that could get them through an entire trimester of college.

[@ishma2100]

Do anybody remember the summer youth program back in New York City in the mid 1990s. The city would step in to train allocate work and even pay a stipend to young teens who are enrolled in a program. And I remember they would have us working at schools, churches, community centers, day camps, libraries and parks. And also when I was a freshman in college, they had a work study program, for students who qualify for financial aid and pell grants. This will allow many young people to build skills that they can put on their resume and introduction into the work force. 😢 Really sad that the city stop this way before the outbreak.

[@TheJarro3800]

As a 23 year old, that has started working at age 16 I fully support having teens work at age 15 or 16.

[@jakefields8018]

my managers manipulated me into working overtime and not taking sick days because there weren't people to cover.. they also payed Texas minimum wage which is 8$

[@michaeltriptow6877]

I don't see harm in children making a buck, I do see a problem of a parent making a buck off a kid though.

[@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp]

Most of us don't have a choice. Rent is unaffordable on a single income. Either we all pitch in or that kid will be homeless. Or they can get send to CPS and we all know the abuse that goes on at CPS.

[@symonelewis1690]

​@@FirstnameLastname-ob1bp: It's still not right for children to be exploited. Child labor laws exist for a reason.

[@JaganDoodala]

This is an interesting, multi-faceted issue I would like to see reported on more. My inkling is every party involved sees it from a singular angle. Everyone needs to align on this.

[@numenthehuman]

The weirdest part of growing up is realizing you aren't young anymore

[@4.0gpa44]

What's safer, a teenager who doesn't know how to drive stealing a car, or a teenager productively employed at McDonald's who operates a deep fryer ocassionally? The thing is the youth need something to do in there spare time, and without jobs, many will turn to crime, and many wilk get hurt in the process, such as from crashing a car or falling off a bridge while spraying graffiti. Yes, a few teens will get hurt on the job, but so do adults, and we don't ban the employment of adults for the reason of age. By the time someone's 14 or 15, they, their parents and employer probably have a decent idea if they are coordinated and ready to handle more advanced tasks.

[@KTJohnsonkidThunder]

When I was in my teenage years living in Chicago, I was looking for work left and right, but unfortunately with no success. I could consider myself as an "at-risk" youth despite excelling in academics and attending private Christian schools growing up for "better education" than public schools in the neighborhood, which was riddled with poor to abysmal living conditions (e.g., crime, little to no community resources). This "slippery slope" was literally taking effect for decades, so all in all, it's no surprise.

[@stevecurcio1204]

We were just in Ocean City, Md a few weekends ago and almost every store and restaurant were nearly employed by foreign workers. Even the resort had folks from the DR and eastern European countries.

[@XBarajasX]

That's why u have "open borders" now. A migrant will take less than a local teen

[@linwilllogan]

I worked at kfc when I was 14. I loved it! I could only work 4 hours a day tops and there was limit for the week which I think was 16 hours. There were also a few things I wasn't allowed to do because I was too young. Everyone respected the fact that I was a kid and never pushed me to work more or do anything dangerous. Just how it should be. Rolling back child labor laws is ridiculous and it blows my mind we are even discussing it.

[@KJJ782]

Child labor laws violation… shouldn’t be working at 14, sounds like something out of the Victorian times, 16 hour days with nothing as a reward. What did it get you ? Stress? High blood pressure? No thanks I work hard but my health is more important than some crazy employer

[@raulmcgangbang6890]

I think teens should be allowed to work. I grew up very poor,and no one would hire me because of age. A min wage job would have helped me and my family alot.

[@joshuacook2]

This article never said what laws are being rolled back. This is irresponsible and doesn't let us know the actual issues.

[@Mr.DMZ.]

I agree with 80% things spoken here. I think it's important for teenagers to work so they can instill good work ethics early on. Plus having a paycheck as a teenager in highschool is amazing.

[@MH-YouTube-Controlled]

$21 million is not even a rounding error when the number of employers fined is taken in account.

[@watomb]

Can’t remember seeing a non Spanish employee working at McDonald’s in the city. Heck most contractors all have Spanish day laborers.

[@TheLastLineLive]

I think it is good to allow kids to have jobs because it will help teach them good work ethic and also let them earn some income of their own, but on the inverse of it, states like Iowa and Arkansas are especially gross on it.

[@lemmmonss]

The logic… 19 year old should be able to do a marketing internship, yeah we definitely should also let 10 year olds use a fryer McDonald’s….

[@ddc2343d]

I got my first job at 14...i loved it. Made my own money, and worked 10-20 hours a week. It was perfect for spending money.

[@tres5533]

Retail is a joke. You can have years of experience from "Store X" and then apply to "Store Y" only to start at the same low starting rate from "X". Retail is notorious for forced low wages and slim weekly hours (10-15) with no set scheduling. "Flexible scheduling" should be illegal. Basically, you "work but can't make a living" is how retail jobs are set up.

[@CatholicTraditional]

Most companies are like this, even the more skilled pro ones. They pay a new hire at their base min.

[@Llama_vet]

If your kids work for you, it’s ok… but if they work for some one else… it’s not?

[@stevechance150]

What the F is your definition of "your kid works for you"? Are you talking about your kid's chore of picking apples from the apple tree in your backyard, or are you talking about your kid picking 15 rows of orange trees in an orchard for 6 weeks straight with 15 other immigrants? Because that would be comparing apples to oranges.

[@Demopans5990]

The former is a easy way to parent without hiring a babysitter. The kid could even be sitting by the cash register and doing basically nothing. The latter...

[@bensu0145]

Teens can legally work today. This is not a debate about teens working, it's one about loosening the laws to allow the exploitation of teens and younger kids. No sane person is going to completely trust corporations to not prioritize their profits over the safety of kids. Also, this is a blatant move to shore up cheap labor.

[@StrictlyAverageGaming]

I’ve never met/known so many unemployed people…and I’ve never seen so many teens working. WTH

[@miked412]

Ahhhh the captain obvious "If we ease regulations, there will be less violations"..... I am all for children getting jobs. But, also, in favor of strict regulations to prevent children from being overworked, underpaid or put in dangerous situations. - A $ today (crap job) vs the opportunity of $5 tomorrow (good paying job) is a difficult concept for adults to understand, let alone children. - Education is far more important than a teenager making a quick buck slinging ice cream. - Also, more focus should be getting children involved in skilled trades than low wage, dead-end jobs.

[@GotJay713]

OMG let kids be kids. They have their whole life to work. Why make them work when they could be studying, so they can have a better job in the future.

[@tw4601]

Let's be real. Yes, the wage needs to be fair. No, kids should not be taken advantage of. But at the end of the day let's not pretend that kids now days are just plain lazy. My nephew literally wouldn't take a job because he had to walk 2 blocks to get there, but rather only would work when he got a car to drive to a job that paid him less but got a discount to buy stuff from them. Cmon man. Minimum wage is minimum wage because it's meant to be a starter position. It's not meant to be a living wage that becomes your career and takes care of you and your family forever. Teens can get their feet wet, learn basic budgeting, and have a little money to enjoy their youth. My first job was 5 bucks an hour (yea, I'm not 60). Tell me what I could do with that other than pay for bus fare or gas, and enjoy some time out with friends.

[@javierjp8549]

4:11 this is outrageous

[@laurachristianson1688]

My issue is complicated, we have youngsters hired on and they basically do nothing while us oldsters are still doing all the work, meanwhile they’re getting paid the same as I, a five year veteran gets the same hourly wage. They never last more than a couple of months, what’s the bloody point?

[@chuckwright6395]

CNBC: Please don't Ax anybody. You might want to Ask them instead.

[@Aubue]

It's sad to see the decline of summer jobs for teenagers. I remember my first job as a lifeguard, and it was not only a great way to earn some money but also taught me valuable life skills. I hope we can find a balance where young workers can have the opportunity to learn responsibility and gain work experience, while businesses can still find reliable employees. Maybe it's time to rethink how we approach hiring and training young workers in the changing job market.

[@TheHarshil]

Companies need to pay living wages then, they can’t keep exploiting kids

[@James-vj5hz]

They should pay more. Obviously teens don't want to work for the offered wages.

[@Dousan02]

Hard labour jobs are more likely to be replaced by automation. Young workers are right to future proof their careers. Relaxing child labour laws doesn’t create incentives for young workers, it just makes it easier for employers to exploit them

[@bithewaydands]

I think the way to go isn’t lowering protections/ages/etc. but rather paying and treating teen employees

[@noahe.2590]

Teenagers should be focusing on their studies, as having a job while still in high school could become a hindrance to academic success due to not having any time to do any projects. Teens should only have jobs if their families are financially struggling. Besides, post-school hours should be a time to rest their minds.