"It has been said that progress can be measured by the extent to which children's rights are safeguarded" (USDOL, 1967). It is estimated that about 80% of the nation's teens will have a job by the time they graduate from high school. Unlike adult workers, young workers typically move in and out of employment, work part-time, and do not typically work to support a family. Nationwide, most teens work in the retail sector, primarily in restaurants and grocery stores. Many also work in service industries, such as health care and hospitality, and agriculture. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 97% of employed youths worked for a wage (versus self-employed or family workers). The numbers of youth working, injured and killed continue to be an issue. Young workers are exposed to many of the same occupational risks as their adult counterparts and, for various reasons, they are more likely to be injured than are adult workers. Data indicate that teens are injured at a rate at least two times higher than adults. Nearly 70 youths under the age of 18 die each year in the U.S. as a result of an occupational injury. The leading causes of death are motor vehicles, agricultural machinery and homicide. Nationally, it is estimated that approximately 230,000 teens suffer work-related injuries each year, with one-third (n = 77,000) of these seeking care in emergency rooms. In keeping with employment patterns, more than 80% of these injuries occur in the retail or service industries.
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