Coming of Age at Work: Good Jobs for Teens

Why It Matters

Elevating teen job quality creates a more skilled, resilient workforce while breaking cycles of low‑wage exploitation, delivering measurable economic and social returns.

Key Takeaways

• Teen employment rates high but job quality often low.
• Good first jobs boost confidence, skills, future earnings.
• Apprenticeships provide mentorship, time‑management, and career pathways for teens.
• Policy must raise floor, ensuring decent wages and schedules.
• Employers benefit from investing in teen development and retention.

Summary

The Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program hosted a webinar titled “Coming of Age at Work: Good Jobs for Teens,” part of its Opportunity in America series, to examine how the labor market can provide age‑appropriate, high‑quality work for teenagers.

Speakers highlighted that roughly 6 million U.S. teens aged 16‑19 are employed, earning a median $15‑$16 hourly, yet the youth unemployment rate sits at 14 percent—nearly three times the adult rate. The discussion stressed that job quality, not just employment, matters: mentorship, skill‑building, predictable schedules, and fair wages are linked to better long‑term outcomes.

Apprentice chef Gabrielle “Gabby” Smith illustrated the impact of a structured apprenticeship, noting how early responsibility, time‑management training, and mentorship propelled her from high‑school work to a culinary scholarship and a startup that teaches chefs managerial skills. Her story underscored the value of intentional design and community support.

The panel concluded that raising the floor for all workers, investing in teen‑focused development programs, and enforcing decent‑work standards can transform first jobs from mere stop‑gaps into career springboards, benefitting families, businesses, and the broader economy.

Original Description

A young person’s first job is a rite of passage in the US — an opportunity to build skills, save for college, support the family business, or support themselves and their loved ones. And after decades of decline, more teens are working today than at any point since 2008. Yet the labor market often fails them. Many face low wages, unpredictable or burdensome schedules that interfere with school, unsafe or discriminatory conditions, and limited opportunities for growth, belonging, and purpose.

At the same time, innovative approaches like apprenticeship, training on safety and worker rights, and purposeful support and mentorship show what’s possible when we get it right: jobs that build confidence, provide fair compensation, and open doors to future careers. As we prepare the next generation of workers and community members, the question is clear: what would it take to make every teen’s first job a good job and ensure the labor market delivers for young workers?

This event — hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Forum for Community Solutions on April 21, 2026 — explores how to create meaningful work opportunities for teens while protecting them from dangerous and exploitative conditions.

Our conversation includes opening remarks from Matt Helmer (Aspen Institute) and Gabby Smith (Plate it Forward), followed by a panel discussion with Jessica Martinez (National Council for Occupational Safety and Health), Mandee Polonsky (Northwestern Memorial HealthCare), John Valverde (YouthBuild Global), Taylor White (New America), and moderator Mike Swigert (Aspen Institute).

For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/coming-of-age-at-work-good-jobs-for-teens/

For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOP

Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go: https://pod.link/1503944129

To learn more about the Forum for Community Solutions, visit: https://www.aspencommunitysolutions.org/

This event is part of our Opportunity in America series: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/series/opportunity-in-america/

It is also the second in our two-part miniseries, “Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Youth at Work”: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/economic-opportunities-program/series/exploring-the-past-present-and-future-of-youth-at-work/

Click here to watch part one, “Backsliding on Child Protections: The Return of Child Labor in the US”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqJGN5hEanc&list=PLpS-H4HC9YKP1MEqNnAa7-O6sPYIfBaJv&index=1