תעסוקת בני ובנות נוער בישראל: תובנות מדור ה-Z

Background: There is a theoretical and empirical debate in the scientific literature on how the employment of Generation Z youth relates to social inequality. While this question has been extensively studied worldwide, little is known about it in the Israeli context. This study also contributes to the literature by providing a multidimensional empirical analysis of youth employment.Aims: To examine the relationship between parents' socioeconomic resources status, family status, and youth employment. We focus on participation in the labor market, the intensity of employment, the wage level of employed adolescents,and the contribution of their income to that of the household.Methods: The study is based on the Household Expenditure Surveys conducted by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics )CBS( between 2016 and 2018. The research population includes adolescents aged 15–17 (n=4,510). Data analysis was conducted using regression models.Findings: Our findings reveal disparities in employment opportunities and outcomes based on parental socioeconomic resources and family status.Adolescents from families with middle-high socioeconomic resources and status exhibit a greater likelihood of securing higher-paying jobs; adolescents from single-parent households demonstrate higher employment rates and higher contribution to their household income, compared to their peers from two-parent households.Conclusions: The research suggests that employment patterns and wage levels are linked to inequality even within Generation Z, beginning at a young age, as members enter the labor market. The family's socioeconomic status plays a significant role in shaping the employment prospects of adolescents.Implications for practice/policy: We advocate for the implementation of policy interventions to mitigate inequality and promote equal opportunities for adolescents in the labor market.