Jan. 10, 2024
By Alexa Cizek
Staff Writer
In New Jersey, one has to be at least 14 years old to hold a job, but some employers set higher age requirements for their employees. They should consider lowering their age minimum as working at a younger age has many advantages.
Working at a younger age gives teens the chance to learn more about the real world. Eventually, they will have to get a job to provide for themselves and their families. Working early on will allow them to get used to having a job and maintaining one.
According to the health and well-being website WebMD, there are a lot of benefits to working at an early age. The main one is that working instills a sense of responsibility. Teens who hold a job have to get to work on time, carry out their job functions properly and act responsibly.
Working at an early age can also help kids learn how to manage their money, so when they grow up and have a career, they will already understand the importance of saving money and spending it carefully. They can buy items they need or want like clothes, electronics and food with the money they earn. They can also pay for entertainment like concert or movie tickets.
Working at a younger age can give teens the chance to learn more about the real world.
Furthermore, having a job teaches teens how to manage a bank account and review their bank statements. Students learn about these skills in the Personal Finance class, which is a graduation requirement at LHS, but nothing beats real-life experience.
Having a job can come with downsides. For instance, it can lead to stress that can affect a teenager’s mental health. School is already stressful, so balancing schoolwork and actual work can be hard. With these two commitments, it may also be hard to manage one’s time properly.
However, these challenges should not stop a teenager from considering part-time employment.
If the teenager is not ready for such a big responsibility, they could limit their hours to weekends only or commit to just one or two days a week after school. They could also take on a job that requires less responsibility such as doing yard work or running errands for a family friend or neighbor.
The United States is currently in a worker shortage. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are currently 9.5 million job openings in the U.S. but only 6.5 million unemployed workers.
Businesses should look to younger teens to fill these positions. It would help meet current needs while providing teens with spending money and life skills that will benefit them as they near adulthood.
CORRECTION: The original version of this article listed 16 as the minimum age for employment in New Jersey. In fact, with some restrictions, teens 14 and older are eligible to work.
