Employing teens serves as investment

A teenager’s first job is their first leap into adulthood. It earns money that we can save, spend or donate to charity. Without it, we have no work experience and have to rely on our parents for a slightly steady income. But we all know asking for money gets old.

Once we reach the working age, teens can head out to join the workforce. We find jobs at clothing stores, supermarkets, pet stores, car washes and restaurants. These jobs earn us money, keep us out of trouble and show us responsibility.

However, in today’s changing job market, teens are being kicked out of the workforce. We are being forced to compete with experienced workers, who due to the economy, are looking for extra income sources. They are tapping into a job market that used to have a higher percentage of teens and part-time workers, thus giving them the money teens would have received.

It is hard enough to find a job for inexperienced workers. The added pressure of competing with adults makes it far more challenging. Also, without experience or having gone to college yet, we don’t have a true value to market. But wouldn’t it be better if there were just jobs for teens?

I’m talking the jobs that were naturally designed to build a teen’s working ability and capitalize on our high energy, open minds and willingness to learn. In order for us to become the future leaders of our world, there should be a spot in the work force protected by the government and local business owners for teens.

These jobs would not only provide us with a few dollars every payday, but also unlock fundamental characteristics for young adults such as dependability, problem solving, money management and leadership. We wouldn’t have to worry about competing with adults and we could feel independent from the family money tree.

So I suggest this: give us the jobs for high turnover, flexible hours and modest wage earning capability. This will provide us with the skills needed to one day be solid performers in the work force.

Teen Board Member Imani Jenkins is a freshman at John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School