High minimum wage hurts teens

Published In: Herald Net
By: Kristen Lopez Eastlick
7/20/09

The July 7 article “Teens finding summer jobs hard to come by” acknowledged the high unemployment rate for teens, but failed to mention the negative long-term problems these skyrocketing unemployment rates cause for teens.

A Stanford University study found that those who as youths experienced especially long periods of unemployment were particularly prone to negative long-term effects on future wages and employment. And research from the University of North Carolina found that unemployment for teens continues to adversely affect earnings for as long as 10 years!

Not having a summer job takes more than just money away from teens. Those who are priced out of the job market by high minimum wages are also deprived of the “invisible curriculum” that comes from learning how to report to a supervisor, show up on time, and work with others as part of a team. State and federal lawmakers should recognize that “feel good” wage hikes hurt vulnerable workers like teens, and they will feel the negative impact for years to come.

Kristen Lopez Eastlick Senior economic analyst Employment Policies Institute Washington, D.C.