Only 48% Gen Y kids have summer jobs? Add on the Mr. Rogers effect and the retiring boomers and we may have a problem….

 

I need to clarify a few things – Depending on what you are looking at or where you read it, Gen Y is people born from 1977-1995.  I am a Gen Y’er, but am on the “old” end of the group being born in 1979.  My age has also been labeled the “MTV Generation” (1974-1985) as well as the “Boomerang Generation”  (1977-1989) for whatever reason. 

 

So, as matters have it, I am the “old” in the Gen Y group and my little brother is the “young” in the group being born in 1991 and a perfect example of the new Gen Y.

 

When we were in high school, most people couldn’t wait to get a job and have their own money to do with as they please.  By our Junior and Senior year, almost everyone had jobs and those that didn’t had a reason such as they baby sat their siblings or something.  Even with sports, most people worked at least in the summer and the research supported that.  In the late 90′s – 2/3′s of the teenagers (16-19) held at least a part time job at some point in the year – it may have been mowing the neighbors yard, but it was something. 

 

As of last month – less than half of the kids in my generation will be doing the same.  It really makes me question why their is such a dramatic shift in such a short periord of time (10 years and 10+%).  When you couple that with the analysis that was announced last week called the “Mr. Rogers Effect” where our generation is having such a hard time adjusting to the real world where you aren’t always encouraged and often have to prove your self, and we are in for an interesting 10 more years in the recruiting world.  To make matters worse, right as the tail end (and worse half - if I do say so) of this generation is graduating from college and hitting the job market is about when the mass loss of the boomers will be starting. 

 

That means we will have less people eligible in the job market and less people wanting to work that could and (I assume) an increasing demand for more skilled workers and we see a problem.

 

We also need to look at the hand out mentality that is being created in many areas of the country.  Working used to be a thing of pride and honor – that you can support your self and you don’t have to be reliant on others.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying the sky is falling, but I am saying that we should be slightly (at least) concerned.  Those of us that have kids that are in the next generation (yet to be named) should be aware of the impact that no scoring t-ball games and the lack of tough love has created in our bigger world.  The “softness” our kids have had is only getting worse and in the long run will make our country worse.

 

If your kids are too young to work – have them EARN their allowance by helping with chores around the house.  Teach them the value of a dollar and why it is important to save for something you want.  Even my 22 month old has to clean her own room! 

 

Moral of the story: I don’t care how much money you have or how much your kids complain about “fair” – make them get a part time job and teach them the value and pride that comes from working and our society will be better for it.