Moscow Children’s Ombudsman Olga Yaroslavskaya has called for the hiring of teenagers to be made easier. Some media outlets inaccurately reported her remarks, claiming that she had proposed allowing children to work from the age of 12. This is not the case: in relation to that age group, she was referring to a symbolic ‘salary’ paid by parents for household chores. As for 14-year-olds, who are already legally permitted to work, Yaroslavskaya stressed that many are eager to find real jobs but face significant difficulties in doing so.
Current legislation places excessive restrictions and bureaucracy on employers in such cases, creating the risk of fines for even minor mistakes, she argued. Economic incentives are needed for employers willing to hire young workers.
Fourteen is the minimum working age specified in the Labour Code, although children can appear in films and perform at concerts at younger ages under special provisions. Even so, strict limitations apply, including reduced working hours, limits on lifting heavy loads and a ban on material liability.
According to surveys, almost half of employers formally support early employment. In practice, however, only one in five or six companies is willing to hire minors despite widespread labour shortages. The reasons are clear: legal and bureaucratic complications, compliance risks, and a lack of suitable vacancies and working conditions.
Teenagers, however, want the opportunity. The main motivation is financial. According to one study, almost half of pupils in grades 8 to 11 have already had experience of part-time work, while roughly the same share would like to gain such experience. In 2025, job seekers aged 14 to 17 posted almost 840,000 CVs on HeadHunter, up 33% from 2023
Sociological research also suggests that most parents support early employment. Adults hope it will help their children build future careers. One argument frequently cited is that a teenager engaged in work is neither glued to a smartphone nor wandering the streets but occupied with something productive
Critics argue that time spent working is time not invested in education and is therefore wasted from a career-development perspective. Supporters counter that early employment develops important skills such as responsibility, teamwork and respect for work. Education must remain the priority, but work also has its benefits.
Researchers use the telling acronym NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) to describe people who are neither studying, working nor receiving vocational training. The growing phenomenon of NEET youth is regarded as a serious problem both for young people themselves and for society as a whole. Employment during the teenage years can reduce the risk of falling into this category
Another question is what kind of work teenagers should be doing. Meaningful early employment is work connected to a future profession, serving as an entry point into a career and providing mentoring from employers rather than simply supplying them with cheap labour
This appears to be the key issue in assessing Yaroslavskaya’s initiative. Most teenagers work as couriers, packers or waiters, where demand and supply naturally coincide. But is there a need for even more young workers in these occupations? This is not merely low-skilled work; for the most part it offers limited long-term prospects. Teenagers can certainly earn pocket money or save for an expensive purchase. However, such employment is unlikely to serve as a foundation for a future career.
For that reason, it is not enough simply to make teenage employment easier through economic incentives. What is needed are accessible mechanisms for early career guidance, knowledge transfer, internships and flexible arrangements allowing students to combine education with work related to their chosen field. That is where the greatest benefits can be achieved. Work linked to a teenager’s interests and supported by mentoring can deliver long-term results.
ORIGINAL: NG/What Is Missing from Teen Employment?
