Is there an economical importance to 15-year-olds in America working (child labor)?

Question

What are the pros and cons to lowering the legal age of teenagers to get a job from 16 to 15? Is there more money coming in since there's another year of people working (15 year olds, as well as 16 and above)?

Answer 1

In Canada we can work when we are 14. I had my first job when I was 14 and economics aside I think it was important for me to learn to work and earn money. It also taught me the value of money.

Economically there is benefit because teens spend money. It circulates which is good for the economy. It also provides a job pool for businesses like fast food chains and gas stations that are not so atractive for more mature workers.

Answer 2

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) allows minors in the USA as young as 14 to begin working in most jobs, and in some instances (agriculture, mom-n-pop retail that parents own, etc. - see 29 CFR 570) they can start work even younger. I agree that kids need to learn how to work, but I think their parents bear this responsibility - not employers. I'm not even sure you can teach a work ethic to someone who does not already come to the job equipped with one.

Besides - childhood is short enough as it is! There will be plenty of time for working - the rest of their lives!! I don't think school work and the chance to better their future through education (and all of our futures, really, through the contributions that a better-educated youth might make to potentially improve the lives of all of scoiety), should suffer at the expense of kids making some quick spending money now. Although, some studies have shown that kids who work around 18-20 hours per week get better grades than kids who work either more OR less hours.

Bottom line: some work is OK, but 14 is soon enough to start and it shouldn't be too much while the kids are still so young. Go to www.dol.gov for more information on child labor laws, or call 1-866-4US-WAGE. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I don't know much about the macro scale effects you are talking about, but on the micro-economy, it would teach kids that cars come from work, not from their parents. Most kids don't work until they are either 18 or 21, and have no idea what it takes to make money or be an adult until they get out there and try to do it. Lowering the working age would make more kids learn about work before they become adults and their jobs are actually important to them.

Answer 4

been working since i was 7 years old. Very good for these young screwoffs to learn a days labour. If they learn the value of a dollar, they will be less vulnerable to careless debt.