Editorial: Pricing teens out of the job market

The summer job for decades a stepping stone toward adulthood and independence may be going the way of the VCR for a great plenty of teens Progressive efforts to outlaw numerous entry-level jobs aren t helping The New York Times disclosed last week that the unemployment rate for teens hit percent in May up a full percentage point from a year previous The increase is in contrast to overall jobless rates which have remained relatively flat since the pandemic spike Nevada s teen unemployment rate was in February Teenagers across the country are entering one of the toughest summer job markets in current years The Times noted as traditional summer jobs at restaurants amusement parks pools and stores either pause new hiring or choose adults for these jobs The statement cites a handful of likely factors including automation a decline in tourism and an uncertainty about the market system brought about by President Donald Trump s tariff policies Missing from the speculation is any mention of rising minimum wage mandates sought by leftist activists Consider California which for more than a year has demanded that the fast-food industry often a teen s first taste of work experience pay employees at least an hour A paper published this month by the National Bureau of Economic Research concludes that the agenda has cost the industry about jobs in the Golden State and led to a decline in employment California fast-food employers have also cut back on hours for multiple workers In addition higher minimum wages have only hastened the rush to automation This is predictable A modern analysis by Bryant University on teen jobless trends in the New England states from - located that increasing state minimum wages was uncovered to have a negative impact on teen employment in each state A paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research analyzing years of research on the subject concluded In its totality this body of evidence and conclusions points strongly toward negative effects of minimum wages on employment of less-skilled workers The idea that the typical minimum wage earner is a head of household trying to endorsement a partner and two children is an enduring myth The reality is noted Erin Shannon of the Washington Protocol Center the majority of minimum wage earners are in fact young work part time have never been married and live at home A summer job for an inexperienced teen is a path toward maturity and a vital means of advancing the habits and skills needed to become a productive adult When progressive central planners push for unrealistic minimum wage hikes the inconvenient truth is that they re excluding more and more young people from the job arena Las Vegas Review-Journal Las Vegas Review-Journal Visit reviewjournal com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC