

Teens and Work

What is a good job for a teenager? What do many teenagers around the world have to do to make money for themselves or their families? Let’s explore what work looks like for many young people around the world.

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  • What does decent work mean? 
  • What is fair work/fair wage? 
  • Does decent work look different for different demographics (ages)?  
  • Do we have jobs, if not, what types of jobs do the people around us have? 


  • In this activity, everyone will collectively create a list of jobs deemed appropriate for a teenager and how much they should make doing this job.  
  • Then, explore a list of jobs that many teens must do/income made to provide for their families. 


  • After curating your list, and comparing to the jobs many people have around the world, what is your reaction? 
  • Is work fair or decent everywhere? 
  • Is wage fair everywhere? 
  • What type of job would you like and what do you think a fair wage is? 



Keep it Simple

Keep it simple by exploring the different jobs many young people have around the world. Instead of creating a list before, simply discuss reactions to these jobs. 


This can be conducted in person, or virtually in very similar ways, using a shared document or virtual whiteboard to record thoughts. Send everyone the links before the activity for ease of access. For ease, possibly have everyone read the article before the activity.  

Take it Further

Imagine you are talking to a teenager in another country and asking then about their job. What would you want to know? What do you want to know about their job? Maybe you want to know more about their job, why they do it or possible other options? Do they like their job? 

Additionally, or alternatively, write real letters to people you know with various jobs and ask them similar questions.