Adolescents and work: Risks and benefits of teenage employment

Adolescent employment, both legal and illegal, has been on the increase in the U.S. during the past 2 decades. Concurrently, violations of labor laws, both state and federal, also have increased. With an estimated 5.9 million adolescents legally employed and an unknown burgeoning illegal population employed in the U.S., the impetus to educate, develop data collection methods, enforce the current laws, and develop laws and regulations that better protect our youth is critical. While work related injuries are known to be a serious problem for the adolescent population, poor reporting mechanisms and lack of data leave the severity of the problem unknown. Adolescent workers are also at risk for exposure to toxic substances and the psychosocial demands of the workplace. Reduction of these risks to adolescents will require a collaborative effort among occupational health professionals, employers, educators, and parents.