I know I'm about to sound like the stereotypical Gen Xer when I say you can learn from menial labor. I've written about this here before, how the hot sweaty days I spent making bagels at 15 were character building. The latest labor statistics are showing that less teens are working -- both those who want jobs and teens who are opting for "alternative experiences." I stumbled across this local story in which Neil Howe chalks up teens forgoing these types of jobs for "experiences" like theater camp as a sign that this generation (Millennials) are higher achievers. First, here is the stat:
Fewer than half the nation's nearly 17 millions teens ages 16-19 - or 48.8 percent - had or wanted jobs in June, according to data released July 6 by the U.S. Department of Labor.That's down from 51.6 percent the previous year, and a significant drop from 2000, when 60 percent of 16- to 19-year-olds were participants in the work force.
I'm not going to knock learning stagecraft for a summer, but I do think something is lost when young people don't experience this type of work. When they get their first job after college, and are asked to go stuff 200 envelopes, they might not be prepared for the boredom and redundancy that comes with that type of menial task. They might bristle at being asked, think back to "experiences" where they were building amazing sets and decide to seek fulfillment elsewhere. I'm being extreme. I know if they're given the context of where the envelopes are going and how this task contributes to the bigger picture, they'll stuff happily.
But maybe more importantly, upper middle class teens, whose parents can afford to subsidize their summers, won't have the experience I have in restaurants after having waited tables. I empathize with the waitress in the weeds and feel compelled to tip generously, because I've "been there." By working at these types of jobs, we all get to experience what most people in this country experience. I really think teens who bypass this type of work all together miss something important, something that builds character and helps them to relate to their less fortunate peers who often have to work these jobs to help support their families.
Posted by anastasia
Campus Marketing
Comments
It's also important to work at a crappy, boring, labor-intensive job to learn that you don't really want to work at crappy, boring, labor-intensive jobs for your whole life. It's great motivation for getting an education.
Posted by: Patrick Fitzgerald | July 31, 2007 11:43 AM
I recently saw a news story related to this where students were opting for summer school over taking a local job for money. They were trying to get ahead so they don't have to take as many college credits. I think most students are trying their best to get into college, adding as much to their portfolio as possible. Which puts, I think, those who have to have a summer job at a disadvantage. I agree that we all need to have a job to create a work ethic and no matter how hard a student works in college, that doesn't prepare them for the "real-world."
Posted by: Rebecca Thorman | July 31, 2007 6:24 PM
I think there's a place for getting those great experiences, but, you're right, it's even more important to get those menial jobs for many reasons, not the least of which is to get experience with a work ethic, which future employers will look at, whether you have a college degree or not. Also, as evidenced by my younger brother's attitude, not getting a job helps create this attitude that you don't have to start at the "bottom", but can start out making a tone of money. Finally, in students' defense, it is getting harder for teens to get jobs because of higher minimum wages, with employers wanting to get more experience and skills for the wages and insurance they're having to pay.
Posted by: Paul Loeffler | August 1, 2007 10:36 AM