Money & Employment
Whether or not families were well off, young people enjoyed the autonomy of having their own paid employment. Four of the young people had secured part time jobs while still attending school, mostly in the retail and customer service sectors. Employment was viewed as a worthy use of time and something that could keep older youth occupied when there was not much else to do on the island for their age group – young participants, however, noted limited opportunities: you can’t get many jobs under 16 in Jersey so it’s kind of like- I’m kinda stuck with what to do. (Sarah, 15). Having a job enabled them to spend money on things that they might otherwise have missed out on, such as leisure and entertainment activities but they were also conscious of saving and planning for their future.
Life on the Rock