Leigh Community Schools Logo

Student Opinion: Shortage of Workers Leads to More Job Opportunities for Teens

January 17, 2022

Launch the media gallery 1 player

By: Kennedy Settje, a senior at Leigh High School

Businesses all over the nation are experiencing a shortage of workers. The cause for this is due to the pandemic we’re living in right now. COVID-19, norovirus, and the omicron variant are making some people scared to work, while others are just taking advantage of paid unemployment. 

While those are the two main assumptions, other people used the pandemic to consider what’s important to them. Some people are rethinking their career choice and changing their lifestyle to fit what’s best for them. 

Some people believe that they are better off at home. Their mindset is that they have enough money built up and don’t need to go back to work. Other Americans close to retirement age have used the pandemic as an opportunity for early retirement. This means more teenagers are filling the gap in the workforce.

The pandemic outbreak has caused chaos for the economy. But this hasn’t necessarily been a negative thing for teenagers.  It has never been easier for teenagers to find a part-time job, and many are even paying above the minimum wage.  Fast-food restaurants especially have been relying on teenagers to fill the gap. I feel like this has been working fine. Teenagers can cook and learn the skills of a fast food restaurant the same as someone older can. However, there should be some adults working in the fast-food restaurants to keep everything under control. 

The percentage of people filing for unemployment is extremely low right now, but many people are choosing not to work. People have different reasons for their decisions, but it all started with the pandemic. People have found other ways to financially support themselves and their families during this time, so rushing back to work isn’t something everyone is eager to get back to.