We constantly tried to get our kids working outside the house at 16. We were oddballs, apparently, since my kids had a resume with a long term (relatively speaking) job, or more than one job on it, before they graduated high school...but so many of our friends' kids, and my kid's friends did nothing during their summers or weekends.
My dad actually trained me for a job for his company as a young teen, and then let me apply to one of his competitors to work for them. Great, great experience.
I always talked about my high school jobs, telling funny stories from my days as a grocery store stocker, or working for my dad (or his local competitor)...hoping the stories would get my kids to want to work, and it did work. All my kids had jobs as teens.
Sorry, bragging a bit, I guess. But I am opposed to these laws that keep kids from working. They need that. It should be part of their education. Maybe allow them to work, and allow them to get credit for working at the local public schools. Our nation would be better off.
When I say things like this, people act like I'm calling for a return of child labor in the mines and in the textile factories. Obviously, that is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about service industry stuff (e.g., fast food, retail, etc.). If they can get a factory job, more power to them. If you've been in today's factories, most are very clean and safe.
Sorry...end rant.