Why Teens Stopped Working

Why Teens Stopped Working

From Economics Happy Hour Podcast by Matt & Jadrian

May 8, 2026 · 53 min

About this episode

This episode explores the decline in teen labor force participation and its implications on skills and independence.

Teenagers today are far less likely to work than previous generations. This episode explores the long decline in teen labor force participation and tries to identify some possible causes. The conversation also turns personal, with reflections on the skills we gained from working early. Along the way, we debate whether teenage jobs still provide important lessons in responsibility, communication, and independence. In this episode, we talk about: * Why teen labor force participation has fallen so dramatically since the 1970s * Whether modern teenagers value independence differently than previous generations * How working as a teenager builds confidence, responsibility, and communication skills * The role of extracurriculars and college competition in shaping teen time use * Whether colleges undervalue work experience compared to other activities If you liked this conversation, you might also enjoy This Week’s Drinks 🍻 Jadrian cracked open a Hardywood Fighting Hokie Hefeweizen , although the real story was that he found the unopened can under the seat of his car and has absolutely no idea how it got there. Matt kept things classic with a Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA . It’s not quite…

People in this episode

Hosts: Matt, Jadrian

Topics covered

  • teen labor force participation
  • independence
  • responsibility
  • communication skills
  • extracurricular activities
  • college competition

Keywords

  • teenagers
  • work experience
  • skills
  • labor force
  • college
  • extracurriculars
  • responsibility

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hardywood, Dogfish Head

Products: Fighting Hokie Hefeweizen, 60 Minute IPA

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