Opportunities for Teens During the Summer (page 4)

What do teens do all summer?

The summer months of yesteryear were long regarded as a time for youths to embark upon adventure. For some, that meant taking a family vacation, participating in sports, or going to summer camp. Increasingly for today’s teens, however, summertime also means attending summer school or working a summer job. The tradition of a carefree summer has all but disappeared for many youths.

In July 2002, 5.4 million 16- to 19- year-olds were enrolled in school during the summer, and 9.3 million were either working or looking for work. Compared with teen activity in July 1994, though, those data reflect an increase in school enrollment during the summer and a decrease in labor force participation.

This article explores some of the changes in the way teens spend their summers. The section on summer school enrollment examines overall trends. The discussion of teens’ labor force participation includes information about the types of jobs they have, the hours they work, and the wages they earn. And a box on page 40 outlines teenage workers’ rights.

Summer school enrollment

Although remediation continues to be a mainstay of summer school, more rigorous and academically challenging courses are becoming part of the standard curriculum. Some summer school students take classes to avoid having to repeat a grade, but others enroll to stay competitive with fellow college-bound students applying to selective postsecondary schools.

Between 1994 and 2002, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data show that there has been a steady increase in the proportion of 16- to 19-year-olds enrolled in school during July. (See chart 1.) The 33 percent of teens enrolled in school in July 2002 is up substantially from the 20 percent enrolled in July 1994. The month of July was examined because it is the month when school enrollment tends to be low.

Labor force participation rates

The increasing interest in summertime scholastic enrichment has resulted in a decrease in the summer workforce. In other words, many teens are focusing on academics instead of working.

According to July 2002 BLS data, the labor force participation rate for teens— the proportion of the youth population aged 16 to 19 that is working or is looking for work—was 58 percent, a steady decrease from the 1994-2002 peak of 67 percent in July 1995. (See chart 2.) Fewer than half (44 percent) of teens enrolled in school in July 2002 were in the labor force, compared with almost two-thirds (65 percent) of those not in school. The decrease may reflect a rise in affluence that allows teenagers to engage in other summer activities.

Labor force participation rates were lower in July 2002 than they were in July 1994 for teens of both sexes and of all races and ethnic origins. But it is difficult to determine how much of the decrease was the result of increasing summer school enrollment and how much was the effect of the recession in 2001.

Young workers lack experience and skills, so they usually are the first to lose jobs in a recession. And many may decide not to look for work if they think that labor market conditions are poor. The most recent recession began in March 2001—and the labor force participation rate of teens showed a more pronounced decline between July 2001 and July 2002 than it did in previous years. The decline was in the number of jobs these workers held; the hours they worked were not as dramatically affected. And their median earnings were above the minimum wage in 2001, the most recent year for which complete earnings data are available.

Types of jobs. The rate of decline in youth labor force participation was intensified by job cutbacks in occupations that are primary sources of employment for those aged 16 to 19: more than half of all teens were employed in service and retail occupations, which had severe job losses between July 2001 and July 2002.

BLS data show that in July 2002, most teens were employed in service and sales jobs, with fewer working in professional, technical, or agricultural jobs. These data are typical for the types of jobs teens work during the summer months. The Employment Policy Foundation points to the retail sector—which includes jobs such as clerks, cashiers, and servers in foodservice establishments—as the primary source of teens’ summer opportunities. “The retail industry serves as a great match for young people looking to gain their first working experience,” says Ed Potter, president of the Foundation. “Employable teenagers, individuals who are between the ages of 16 and 19, can use workplace skills gained during these short-term, seasonal jobs after high school and college graduation when they search for more stable employment.”

Average hours worked. During the summer, youths who are not in school are able to increase the number of hours they work each week. BLS data show that in July 2002, employed youths aged 16 to 19 worked an average of nearly 29 hours per week—slightly fewer than the 30 hours per week that teens worked in July 2001.

Median earnings. The minimum wage of $5.15 per hour is associated with many youths entering the workforce. In fact, a youth minimum wage, authorized by 1996 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, allows employers to pay workers who are under age 20 a lower wage for 90 calendar days. But BLS data show that half of workers aged 16 to 19 earned more than $6.75 in 2001.

Summer school or summer work: Why bother?

Given a choice between spending the summer lounging by the pool and attending school or working, many teenagers may opt for the pool. But presented differently—wasting time instead of getting ahead academically or earning spending money—those same teens might change their minds.

Many teens both attend school and work during the summer. In doing so, these teens may be able to give themselves more academic opportunities while at the same time earning money. And by necessity, they also are likely to learn to manage their time effectively, a skill that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Of course, not all teens have a choice: some must go to summer school to avoid repeating a year in school, others work because of financial necessity, and still others must do both. Regardless of whether their school attendance or work during the summer is voluntary, however, either activity confers benefits on the teens who participate.

Benefits to attending summer school. Summer school has become an important resource for many students. Generally, summer school is mandatory for a small group of students: those who have been conditionally promoted—that is, those who will be promoted to the next grade only after attending and passing a specified summer school curriculum. But thousands of students are encouraged to enroll in summer classes, including students who are not fluent in English or who performed poorly on State-mandated exams.

The remaining students who attend summer school do so for academic enrichment. These enrichment programs may include short-term intensive classes, review courses for college admissions exams, and specialty camps. Many high school students also take a course during the summer so they do not have to take it in the fall. That gives them the option during the school year of taking an elective or a higher level course in the subject they studied in summer school.

Benefits to working a summer job. Working during the summer offers teens many advantages. One of the main benefits is related to the paychecks they earn: youths begin to be more fiscally responsible for themselves and less dependent on their parents. Whether they are saving for a costly asset, such as a car, or earning pocket money, working teens are establishing the foundations of their financial independence.

Having a job makes teens responsible in other ways, too. After all, employment means more than simply showing up at a jobsite. Workers must find a way to arrive on time and be well rested, clean, and prepared to perform their job tasks. Working teens also learn important life skills that range from communication to problemsolving. And in many fields— including fast-growing ones, such as healthcare and computers—a job that provides those skills might serve as a valuable steppingstone to a future career.