More and more young people need to find jobs at an earlier age,
to supplement their pocket money, finance their lifestyles, or put themselves through school, college or university.
This is partly because the cost of living has increased but also because of the pressure to own the most up
to date phone, the most fashionable clothes and the most expensive gadgets around.
This is partly because of peer pressure and bullying but also because of the celebrity endorsement of certain goods;
such as a few years ago Britney Spears was the face of Skechers footwear and all the time
various perfumes etc are advertised by celebrities.
Also young people feel the need to by the strip of their favourite football
team every time a new one comes out which often cost over £40,
which is a lot to pay twice a year or more if you want the away and goalie strips as well.
However when young people go into the workforce they are often seen by some employers as a cheap,
flexible resource that can be underpaid, made to work long hours with insufficient breaks,
or given lots of responsibility without appropriate training or reimbursement.
Part of the problem is that many young people don’t know their rights at work.
But it is also a symptom of a wider issue where on the whole young people are undervalued by society.
Some people I know started working a couple of years ago on just over £2 per hour,
less than half the minimum wage for over 18 year olds.
The minimum wage for under 18s is currently £3 per hour which is £1.50 per hour less than that for over 18s.
It could be argued that work is crucial to build a young person’s identity.
Working allows for young people to gain the necessary skills to succeed in life and gives a
young person their first real look into what life is really about.
Through working, it provides those skills, such as motivation, responsibility, reliability and ambition,
which build an independent and capable character.
The workforce wants to see these types of people;
people who want to succeed and are able to make that difference in the workplace.
What does the majority of people do for most of their life, after they finish school…?
Work. Working from a young age also gives people the knowledge of what life is after school.
In most cases, the first job isn’t going to be a high paying, salaried job,
working for a law firm or the job that you will be working at for the rest of your life etc,
but it gives someone the insight of what is required to be a good employee.
It also gives them ways to cope with conflict, how to budget and how to deal with all sorts of people,
which are skills that are also necessary for life.
When applying to university they often look for any work experience, paid or unpaid,
so working is often beneficial. However, it remains important for young workers to know their rights;
they should not be taken advantage of and underpaid.
Do young people who are still at school in your country have part-time jobs as well?
Do you think young people should work while still at school?
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