Do teens still get Saturday jobs?

[JC03745]

I see so many threads- my 22yr old is going for their 1st interview, my 18yr old has never worked etc. I'm mid 40's and from 14, myself and friends all had some sort of Saturday/after school job- supermarket or retail etc which I continued until I'd finished uni.
I don't have kids. Is getting a part-time job no longer done, or is it just on MN it seems so uncommon?

There’s plenty of jobs for teens here from the age of 13/14. Very common. Paper rounds, pot washers, waiters/waitresses. Jobs in retail usually 16+ though.

Very few places will take under 16s

My DS wanted to make money as a 14 year old and it was really tricky as we were new to area (so babysitting out).

We paid him for (extra) chores in the end.

My son started a paper round aged 13 and keen to try for a pot wash job or similar once he turns 14. Daughter has been babysitting since age 14 and then holiday job in children's playscheme aged 16. Other daughter just got a Sunday job (with extra hours in holidays) aged 16 by going up and down the high st with her CV. There are jobs but it definitely is tricky especially younger teens as not much for under 16s.

Interestingly, lots of SAHMs & PT mums here. Maybe that’s why there’s still lots of PT jobs for young people available.

My oldest works. I have mixed feelings tbh. My teens do build employability skills through volunteering and working has been good for the oldest but it does make life harder too, having to consider shifts when trying to have a social life, not being able to come on weekend visit to see grandparents etc.

They go to school all week and have homework to do evenings and weekends. To then work at the weekend too..... It is a lot. Most of us wouldn't do that to ourselves would we? We need actual days off and so do our teens.

I do expect my teens to do something to build employability skills as getting that first job is hard. They next teen down doesn't work yet but volunteers and has done a lot of training around that so if they don't work that's fine by me. But if they choose to look for a job I will also support them.

Some teens definitely do. I think it can be tricky as there aren’t loads of jobs in all areas and where we live, rurally with no public transport, it does mean you are reliant on parents to drive you there and collect you, which isn’t possible for every family.

But definitely I worked (cash in hand) from probably 10, mucking out horses and doing pony rides, helping my mum with cleaning jobs (her 2nd job, she was a corporate accountant by day!). And officially from 15, at a supermarket, riding polo horses for a polo team, and for an agricultural genetics company hand fertilising maize (it was very itchy work as I discovered I was allergic to maize pollen 😂).

Yes, we're definitely not helped by living in a smallish town. There is a retail park but public transport is extremely limited from where we live (and we work very long irregular hours ourselves so can't reliably drive him).

We had previously 122 applicants for ONE school cleaning job. When I worked in a supermarket it was 240+ applicants for ONE part-time job in the grocery section. They're not going to go for the inexperienced teen, sadly.

Well some have to as teens because their parent/s don't have the money to give them for spending money/transport money etc. None of my friends and I got pocket money (deprived area) so we all had to work on weekends around school/college. No choice.

I teach undergrads and am always surprised how few have part-time jobs. As a student I had a shop job and a bar job.

My friend’s 16 year old dd just got a weekend job in the local chipper. She’s delighted to be earning money to spend on makeup!

Paper rounds don't really exist anymore but my 13 year old does little odd jobs like painting peoples sheds or helping clean out ponds etc. He loves the chance to earn money. He's a bit young for babysitting just yet but he's keen to do it as soon as he can. He's good with little kids so could earn quite well. I think it's good for them to have the independence.

My daughter has been agitating for a job for a few months. Not 14 yet but she may have one coming up in a deli we go to. The owner has known her for half her life and has said he may have a vacancy soon. She is v.confident and would be working the till/pos. Hope she gets it. It's a very busy shop but I know she will enjoy it and the money
Went to a busy chip shop recently and the3girls behind the counter were approx 17/18. Evening in the week. They were a credit to the shop. Polite, fast moving. Told my daughter she had the role models right in front of her for shop work.

My dd16 has a supermarket job and does a lot of additional shifts - more than I'd ideally like, if I'm honest. I'm expecting her to cut down on the additional shifts when she's in yr13, but still keep her Saturday and 1 weekday shifts. It took her a while to get this job, most places said you had to be 18+.

Health and safety regs make it hard to take on anyone under 16 if not 18. We can't where I work. Who has a newspaper delivered anymore? Most people read the news online. DS did start with a weekend paper round and then has been a sports coach and lifeguard age 16-19.

Both of mine did, my DS from 16 in an independent clothes shop and my DD from 15 in a local shop.
A lot of their friends worked in McDonald's from age 16 I'm sure. They seemed very good employers, very flexible and good money for their age.

Dd is just turning 14 and would love a job. She's very practical and good with people. It was tough even finding her volunteering for d of e though as lots wanted over 14s only ...or even over 16s.

Dd (13) would love a job but can't find anywhere that employs under 16s

Ds (17) has worked since he was 16. Just 8h a weekend.

All three of mine have/had weekend jobs working in Maccies or shops. I’m really proud of their work ethic and it’s served them well when applying to uni and then for graduate jobs.

Mine both did a Sunday paper round from 12, but never alone (safety). So the shop paid them £5, we paid the other £5 to accompany.

But that was all that was available till 16.

The idea an A level or degree student, especially BA can't work part time is rubbish.

I was 14 when I got my first job washing up in a pub, my 18 year old now was 14 and worked in a pet shop and I have a 13 year old now who works at the kebab place, it's good for them.

It's really hard to get one but having said that, mine worked in cafes.

Around here most work summers in hospitality as it's a tourist area

Mine gave all delivered a local monthly magazine from age 13 and picked up retail jobs at 16. But a lot of big chain shops want people to do 15 or 16 hours a week which I think is too many while doing A Levels.

What is your actual knowledge of whether 13/14 year kids are actually getting these jobs?

So many are saying their 16 year old is losing out to CoL desperate adult.

I employ 20 staff and currently 8 of them are between 15-18
They work hard, are genuinely thrilled to be earning a good wage, take far more shifts on than my other staff because they have the flexibility of time
It’s incredible for their confidence, future work ethic and uni applications!