Home Posts tagged Important

The Importance of Teen Employment

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

Tim Paciorek, president of Paciorek Electric in Hatfield — whose story we share starting on page 4 — always had a desire to own his own business someday, even as a child.

What fueled that desire — and, in many ways, was fueled by it — was a work ethic that came from simply … well, working. He had lots of jobs throughout his youth, from a paper route to farm labor; from reconditioning cars to woodcrafting; from raking leaves to mowing lawns. It’s a path he believes would benefit many young people today — only, it’s not as easy to find those jobs for teenagers.

The past 30 years has seen a dramatic decline in youth labor force participation. In the 1990s, most U.S. teenagers had at least some connection to work. But according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the labor force participation rate for teenagers dropped from well above 50% in the mid-1990s to just 36% today. The steepest declines came between the late 1990s and early 2010s, after which participation stabilized at much lower levels.

There are many reasons for that. Fewer jobs for teens exist today due to automation replacing entry-level tasks, increased competition from college graduates, older people staying in the workforce longer, higher minimum wages making teens — and their relative dearth of experience — seem costly, and stricter child labor laws reducing available hours and roles compared to past decades.

Paciorek said any teenager who really wants a job can still likely find one, but less motivated young people aren’t as likely to dig beyond the obvious, while opportunities that dominated in decades past, from paper routes to fast food, aren’t as prevalent today, or are much more populated with adults than in the past.

Some of those adults are seniors, and one can’t blame them for being part of the competition. Many want to work to feel vibrant and stay active and sharp, and many may need to work just to make ends meet.

But first, second, and third jobs are important — for a number of reasons. From a practical standpoint, jobs provide young people with the resources to help pay for college and, in many cases, just to support themselves. Also, they provide key lessons in how the world of work operates, thus better preparing them for future employment — or, for budding entrepreneurs like Paciorek, launching their own enterprises. Jobs also help keep young people from getting bored and getting into trouble.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce lists several reasons why small businesses might want to hire teen workers:

• They’re eager for work. Many teens want financial freedom, and they’re willing to work to get their foot in the door.

• They’re an efficient means to expand the workforce during peak times. Since they’re typically not seeking benefits, hiring teenage workers in part-time, limited-skill positions can be especially useful for businesses operating seasonally or needing extra hands temporarily, such as during summer vacation or over the holidays.

• The business might be eligible for a tax credit. Teens are included under the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which encourages employers to hire candidates who face challenges securing employment, and Massachusetts offers state tax credits for hiring registered apprentices in specific industries.

• Businesses can help shape the next generation of working professionals. No matter the industry, teenage workers can develop soft skills such as responsibility, organization, time management, and creative problem solving that will serve them well throughout high school, college, and the workforce. Professional experience at a young age can lead to higher-paying jobs later on, as it boosts résumés and professional skills.

We’ve been saying it for decades, and it’s still true now: area economic development leaders and employers need to collaborate to find ways to get more young people into the workforce, and help build the next generation of success stories.

The Importance of Summer Jobs

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

It is mid-May.

Most college students are back home now, and in a month or so, they’ll be joined by thousands of high-school students. Most of these young people will be looking for work, and we can’t stress enough how important it is for the region’s business community to help them find it.

We’ve delivered this message often, but it’s even more critical to send it this year, a time of uncertainty for all business owners and nonprofit managers, and a time when many in both categories are experiencing some form of hardship.

Indeed, there have been several reductions in workforce in our region in recent months. The cutbacks at Baystate Health, which is undergoing what its new leadership is calling an ‘ongoing transformation,’ have garnered large headlines, but many others have gone under the radar.

Meanwhile, many higher-education institutions are also experiencing hard times, with some implementing hiring freezes and other strategies designed to control budgets.

So, for many, it will be difficult to bring on more help, while for others, especially those in the hospitality industry and retail, it is still difficult to find help, and the arrival of summer and college and high-school students is a blessing.

We would encourage all those who can to try to find opportunities for these young people, and for many reasons.

That includes a paycheck, which they need. Beyond that, though, summer jobs, especially those all-important ‘first’ jobs — be they at a local farm, the Big Y or Rocky’s Ace Hardware down the street, Six Flags, or a landscaping company — bring with them many lessons and learning experiences.

Young people come to understand how the world of work operates, the importance of showing up on time every day, and the nuances of teamwork and being part of a team. And if these young people are working, they’re often less likely to be getting into trouble.

At the same time, summer jobs help people make connections with the local business community. Sometimes — not often, but sometimes — a summer job at a hospital, college, manufacturing facility, or accounting firm can lead to a career with one of those employers.

Everyone remembers their first job. Everyone remembers those jobs they had while they were in high school and home from college. They remember them because they were important steps in their development as adults and contributors to a team, a business, and the local economy.

That’s why, even in these difficult and uncertain times, it’s important for businesses of all sizes to create more of these experiences by creating some summer jobs.

A Force in the Region

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

Almost from the first puck drop back in the fall of 2017, we have been writing about the importance of the Springfield Thunderbirds — not just to the general psyche of the region (it’s good to have a pro sports team to root for) and to the vitality of Springfield’s downtown, but also to the local economy.

We’ve said many times that the team is a powerful force not just for filling bars and restaurants, and the casino on Main Street, but for job creation and supporting jobs elsewhere in the Pioneer Valley.

And now, we can quantify this broad impact.

Indeed, a recently released report details a study undertaken by the UMass Donahue Institute showing that the team’s operations have generated $126 million for the local economy since 2017.

The study included an analysis of team operations data, MassMutual Center concessions figures, a survey of more than 2,000 T-Birds patrons, and interviews with local business owners and other local stakeholders. Among its most critical findings, the study shows that the T-Birds created $76 million in cumulative personal income throughout the region and contributed $10 million to state and local taxes.

Meanwhile, the report shows that the team has doubled the number of jobs created from 112 in 2017 to 236 in 2023, and estimates that income per job created by the T-Birds is approximately $76,000, and that each job created by the Thunderbirds creates or supports 3.3 other jobs elsewhere in the Pioneer Valley.

Overall, the study concludes that the franchise, which has enjoyed success both off the ice and on it, including a run to the Calder Cup finals in 2022, is having a true ripple effect that extends beyond the walls of the MassMutual Center. Indeed, the study found that 78% of T-Birds fans spend money on something other than hockey when they go to a game, including nearly 70% who patronize a bar or restaurant or MGM Springfield. It also found that median spending by fans outside the arena is $40 per person on game nights and that every dollar of T-Birds revenue is estimated to yield $4.09 of additional economic activity in the Pioneer Valley.

We’re not sure, but it’s unlikely that even those business owners who came together to 2016 to save professional hockey in Springfield could have imagined this kind of impact. The numbers clearly show that they did more than bring a franchise here; they put together a team, led by President Nate Costa, that has put a quality product on the ice, marketed it in ways that are the envy of the American Hockey League, and turned that product into an economic engine.

Over the years, Costa and the team’s ownership group have won a number of awards from BusinessWest, everything from a Forty Under 40 plaque and a Difference Makers award for Costa to the Top Entrepreneur recognition for the team’s owners and managers.

Together, those awards speak volumes about what a success story this has been, not just for hockey fans, but for the entire region. But the Donahue Institute report speaks even louder. It puts numbers behind the words and quantifies what can only be called an unqualified success.