Aussie teens working part-time in record numbers in a bid to help families make ends meet

Australian school students are taking on more part time jobs to help plug dwindling household budgets. See expert tips on how to find a job.

Aussie teens are taking on part-time work in record numbers to help plug dwindling family budgets.

In a telling response to the cost-of living crisis, more and more young people are contributing to household expenses – or paying for their own extra-curricular activities, like tutoring, sports and entertainment.

But there is concern their willingness to help could come at the price of their education.

Demographer Mark McCrindle said the tough economic times had forced some Australian families to return to “the household finance model of the old days”.

“It’s not just the two incomes of the parents, you have other members in the household making a contribution now and that includes teens,” he said.

“It’s another way families are making ends meet.”

Students are now forced to work to help their families make ends meet.

Queensland University of Technology Professor of Work and Organisation Paula McDonald agreed the motivation for teens to work was greater than just “to fund their mobile phones or to eat with their friends”.

“We do know that there is a sizeable minority of young people who are contributing to households,” Prof. McDonald said.

The latest labour force figures show 37.3 per cent of 15-19 year old school students are employed – up nearly five per cent from May 2019.

Covid proved the game changer, with nearly half the number of young job seekers reporting their age to be the main barrier in finding work, compared to before the pandemic

“Post-pandemic there have been more jobs that wouldn’t normally be available,” Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) statistician Bjorn Jarvis said, adding this meant employers were more likely to take a punt on juniors.

“In the data for February 2024, you can see industries that often employ younger workers still had 50 per cent more vacancies than they had before the pandemic.”

A parliamentary report by the House Standing Committee on Education and Training, published pre-pandemic, found 10 per cent of young people in Australia worked to meet personal living expenses, pay for their education or supplement the family income.

Prof. McDonald said that would be “significantly higher now”.

However, she cautioned that too many hours on the clock could come at a cost to a child’s education, with the same study showing students who worked more than 10 hours per week during their senior schooling years had a lower academic performance compared to those who did not work – and an increased likelihood of leaving before the end of Year 12.

She said often young people were being pressured to work beyond their capacity.

“What we hear a lot is that young people will decline a shift and then there will be some kind

of punitive response from the employer, (for instance) they’ll be given less shifts,” Prof. McDonald said.

Taya Seldon, 16, just started her first job at Wondersushi in Woolooware. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Taya Seldon, 16, said the best thing about her new part time job at a sushi restaurant was not having to depend on her parents for money.

Taya said her mum had always paid for “things I really needed”, but she preferred having her own income for buying new clothes and going out to eat with friends.

“I feel like now I’ve learned it’s easy to spend money, but a lot harder to actually earn it,” she said, adding her employer was accommodating of her extensive sporting and schooling commitments.

Karen Seldon said she was excited for her daughter to be able to buy things for herself, and to “learn the value of a dollar”.

“When we were kids we got notes, so we could see the value. But these days they just tap, they don’t see what they are really spending.” she said.

Tips for teens looking for work

Know your limits: Be realistic about how many hours you will be able to work. Check whether the job you are applying for requires a minimum number of hours per week, and communicate with employers about your availability.

Show face: Managers are much more likely to hire you if they can put a face to your name. Dropping off your CV in person at workplaces makes a positive impression, and gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your people skills.

Beware of your digital footprint: Your future boss may look you up on social media, so make sure you aren’t posting anything you wouldn’t want them to see.

Show off your skills: Extra-curricular commitments teach you skills that are transferable to the workplace, so make sure to put your sports, clubs or volunteering roles on your CV.

Know your rights: Make sure you know the wage you are legally entitled to, and talk to an adult if you are unsure about anything.

Originally published as Aussie teens working part-time in record numbers in a bid to help families make ends meet