May 30, 2002

Worst Teen Jobs Of 2002

Recently, the National Consumers League (NCL) issued a list of the top five worst teen jobs of 2002 at the national teen competition, Lifesmarts, in Washington D.C. to help guide teens in searching for that perfect summer job. With more than three billion teens entering the workforce this summer, the NCL directs teens away from jobs proven to be dangerous or lacking protection of the law.

"Summer break provides teens with an opportunity to get away from the daily routine of going to school, and allows them to visit friends and make a little extra money.", says Debra Pankow, North Dakota State University Extension family economic specialist. "finding a suitable job requires a commitment of time, energy, and a clear understanding of the type of job you want to do."

The NCL has identified the Top Worst Teen Jobs of 2002 as follows:

• Delivery and other driving: including operating or riding on forklifts and other motorized equipment
• Working alone in cash-based businesses: convenience stores, gasoline stations, and fast food establishments
• Traveling youth crews: selling candy, magazine subscriptions, other consumer goods on street corners, in strange neighborhoods, distant cities, and across state lines
• Jobs where employers pay "under the table wages"
• Construction: including work in heights and contact with electrical power

"The NCL compiles the five worst teen jobs each year by using government statistics, results from the Child Labor Coalition’s annual survey of state labor departments, and news accounts of injuries and deaths," says Pankow. "Many teens are working in unsafe conditions without proper training or supervision. Too many are injured or killed on the job because they were performing tasks that are prohibited by federal or state labor laws."

According to the new NCL survey of teens aged 14-18, 62 percent receive most of their money from part-time and neighborhood jobs. Reports show that 231,000 U.S. workers under the age of 18 are injured on the job. In 2000, 73 employees under the age of 18 died from work related injuries; 29 were under the age of 16.

Pankow offers some tips for teens looking for a summer job.

• Know the type of job you want to do. Do fast paced jobs have more appeal than ones in quiet, laid-back environments?
• Does the job suit your skills and interests?
• Understanding why you want to work. Do you want to earn extra money or do you need a job to make ends meet?
• Have a positive attitude. A good attitude towards work can sometimes make up for a lack of skills. Employers understand that teen workers are inexperienced and are learning s they go. However, they also want to feel that paying you is a good investment.

If you are interested in teen job searching, contact your local extension agent or contact Debra Pankow, North Dakota State University Extension family economics specialist , at (701) 231-8593 for more details.

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Source: Debra Pankow, (701) 231-8593, dpankow@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Richard Mattern, (701) 231-6136, Richhard.Mattern@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Writer: JJ Camarillo, (701) 231-8371, jcamaril@ndsuext.nodak.edu