The Vanishing First Job: Automation and the Lost Opportunities for America’s Teens
As robots begin stocking shelves in Japan, a concerning trend is emerging in the US labor market: the steady disappearance of entry-level jobs traditionally held by teenagers.While major retailers like Walmart previously experimented with automation and stepped back, advancements in artificial intelligence and machine vision suggest a renewed push toward robotic labor, potentially leaving a generation without crucial formative work experiences.
The decline in teen labor force participation is stark. In August 2000, 52.3% of Americans between the ages of 16 and 19 were actively employed. By August 2025, that figure is projected to plummet to just 34.8%. This shift, largely driven by technological advancements, is raising concerns about it’s broader societal impact.
Did you know? – The teen labor force participation rate has been declining for decades. This trend accelerated in the 2000s, coinciding with the rise of automation and the gig economy.the COVID-19 pandemic further impacted teen employment.
“Automation shifts compensation from workers to business owners, who enjoy higher profits with less need for labor,” notes a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. the argument isn’t about improved quality or lower costs for consumers.As one analyst points out, a robot flipping a burger isn’t demonstrably better than one made by a 17-year-old, and prices aren’t necessarily reduced. Furthermore, reliance on automated systems introduces new vulnerabilities, such as service disruptions during outages like those experienced with Amazon Web Services.
Beyond the economic implications, the loss of these jobs deprives teenagers of invaluable life skills. Learning responsibility, navigating workplace dynamics, and developing financial literacy are lessons best learned through experiance. The possibility to “test run” handling a difficult boss in a low-stakes habitat, like a Dairy Queen, is becoming increasingly rare.
The impact extends beyond traditional teen jobs. MIT economist Daron Acemoglu argues that automation doesn’t significantly boost productivity but exacerbates income inequality by displacing lower-skill workers. This displacement is pushing adults into roles previously held by younger workers, such as retail and food delivery. The average age of a retail worker in the US rose to 38.7 in 2024, up from 29.3 in 2015,particularly in clothing retail where the average age jumped to 33.
Reader question: – How can teenagers gain essential life skills and work experience if traditional entry-level jobs disappear? What alternative opportunities, such as internships or volunteer work, could fill the gap? share your thoughts.
Even the gig economy, once a haven for teens seeking flexible work, is now being encroached upon by automation. As adults supplement their income with delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash,autonomous delivery robots are beginning to appear on US streets. One consumer expressed relief at avoiding the potential for spoiled groceries due to delivery driver issues, but at what cost?
The prospect of self-driving coolers delivering sushi doesn’t offer any tangible benefit to the consumer. There’s simply nothing broken in the current system that a robot can fix. These j
