Holding a Job while in High School: Pros and Cons


Wednesday, November 18, 2020

There are always two sides to a coin and it is no different when it comes to deciding whether or not to hold a job while still in high school.



According to information from the U.S. Census Bureau as cited by Walden University, around 30% of high school students in 2011 held a job for at least part of the school year. 

For many high school students, working a job provides spending money in order to have a social life. For many others, working is a necessary to help the family make ends meet and to even save for a future college education. Either way, working a job is another task on top of working to earn a high school diploma.

Forget about the money for a quick second, although we know that, ultimately, if it is a necessity then a student will work no matter what.

Let’s talk about the Pros and Cons of working while in High School. We hope that with these Pros and Cons, you can make a more informed decision when it comes to choosing whether or not to work while in high school!

What are the Pros of Holding a Job while in High School?

  • Students learn, through their own experience, about the relationship between earnings and education. High school students usually work low-income jobs that require little to no education. These are jobs that may help earn an extra buck or help a family make ends meet, but not jobs that can help sustain a person independently. This lesson can help make it clear that, in order to earn a good living, a solid education is essential.
  • Working during high school can teach students about the value of money! Without a job, high schoolers rely on other people’s money such as a weekly allowance given to them by their parents. Having a job teaches one about money and helps them understand the value of a dollar.
  • Students can learn how to manage their own budget. You can see how quickly hard-earned money can disappear on frivolous spending or save up for something that means a lot to you.
  • Working while in school will teach students important time-management skills because students will have to learn how to balance a job with their studies.
  • Holding a job can give you more confidence! Students can feel more capable and independent.
  • Jobs can also help students stay out of trouble as they will be spending their time working to earn money. 

What are the Cons of Holding a Job while in High School?

  • Holding a job can harm academic achievement. If students work upward of 20 hours a week, they will no longer have enough time to truly dedicate themselves to their studies.
  • While many jobs, especially those in the service industry, teach students people skills that can be useful later on, very few entry-level jobs will teach high-level skills.
  • Depending on a student’s experience with a job, some may end up with negative views about work. 
  • Jobs take away personal time as well. High school students may want to earn their own buck to have a social life, but not be able to socialize because of the time they spend working.
  • Working a job can lead to fatigue. Students may not always be able to sleep and eat well while working a job. 




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