The Dawn of Automation: From Japan to America
Robots are already taking up positions in convenience stores in Japan, and it’s only a matter of time before America joins this revolution. Remember the days when teens earned their first paycheck by stocking shelves at Walmart or 7-11? Those opportunities are dwindling, thanks to advancements in machine vision and AI. While Walmart stepped away from their shelf-scanning robots back in 2020, the technological leaps in the past five years suggest that soon it might not be a human restocking your favorite cereal, but a machine.
A Disappearing Job Market for Teens
The landscape of the teen job market has drastically changed. In August 2000, over half of American teenagers aged 16 to 19 actively participated in the workforce. Fast forward to August 2025, and that number has dramatically decreased to just over a third. The main culprit? Technology. The automation trend shifts the benefits from workers to business owners, who enjoy the profits of less human labor. Harry J. Holzer of the Brookings Institution notes how this contributes to income inequality and leaves our youth without critical work experience during their formative years.
The Hidden Cost of Automation
Teens are missing out on learning fundamental skills like workplace navigation and basic financial literacy. They now enter adulthood without the experience that comes from facing challenges in low-stakes environments, such as dealing with a difficult manager at a neighborhood eatery. MIT economist Daron Acemoglu emphasizes that automation rarely boosts productivity but more often leads to deeper income disparities by pushing out lower-skilled workers.
Breaking Down the Age Barrier
Historically an entry-level job for many youths, retail now sees an average worker age of nearly 40, with younger retail sectors experiencing a similar demographic shift. Adults, displaced from traditionally adult-dominated roles, are accepting jobs once filled by teens, like retail and food delivery. And now, with services like Uber Eats exploring robotic delivery options, even these opportunities are slipping away from our youth.
The Impact on Society
At the heart of this transition is the question of who truly benefits from robotic advancements in mundane tasks like delivering pizza or flipping burgers. Many argue that such automation doesn’t resolve existing issues nor enhances the consumer experience. For teens, these roles represented more than jobs; they were avenues for independence, lessons in budgeting, and primers on interpersonal skills. According to The Verge, the rise of online shopping, digital media, and automation has virtually ousted them from the workforce, leaving many caught in a shrinking job market.
Conclusion: What the Future Holds
With automation creeping into every corner of the job market, 17-year-olds are left competing with an increasingly broad and skilled range of job seekers. As automation continues to evolve, it’s imperative to seek solutions that not only embrace technology but also preserve crucial opportunities for our younger generations.