– Now it’s the final finish. There is always a bit of stress right before the season starts. Vebjørn Skavhaugen Linga is working to get Bø Sommarland ready for a major breakthrough. He has worked here every summer for the past 11 years – ever since he left secondary school. – Professionally, it has been a big payoff. I am going to become a teacher, and being responsible for so many lifeguards and assistants has made me more secure in that role. It turns out to be wise. CLEANING THE POOL: Also all the pools must be cleaned now just before the start of the season. Photo: Martin Torstveit / news Tener betre According to new research, those who had a summer job as 17-year-olds get a much higher income as adults. This is shown by figures from Statistics Norway, Statistics Norway Senior advisor Jon Epland at Statistics Norway says that those who start work early tend to do so. Photo: Per Kristian Lie Lowe / SSB As 34-year-olds, the income difference between those who had a job as a young person and those who did not work is large. Senior adviser Jon Epland wanted to find out whether the summer or part-time job as a young person has anything to say about the future income. – It did, and perhaps more than one would think. Those who were 17 years old in 2004 earned almost NOK 100,000 more a year in 2021 than those who had not had a summer job. – Counting heavily on the latter, Statistics Norway has studied the development in income in the cohort born in 1987. The men who had a job as a youth had a median occupational income of NOK 632,000 in 2021. For those who had not had a job as a 17-year-old, the figure was NOK 535,000. The salary development was the same among women, but the differences were slightly smaller at NOK 82,000. – We are a little surprised. One might think that having a summer job doesn’t matter that much, but the generation that was involved in working life early on has a lot to do with it later, says Epland. Collaboration with the junior high school Bø Sommarland has 300 seasonal workers on duty during the summer, and has entered into a formal collaboration with the junior high school in the village. In winter, the water park comes to visit, and everyone who is interested is given the opportunity to come for an interview. – It is pleasant that research confirms that it pays to work from an early age and gain experience, says park director René Langeveld Sas. René Langeveld Sas, park director, Bø Sommarland, says 15-year-olds often go through a major development. Photo: Martin Torstveit / news He says most 15-year-olds do not have the most exciting CVs. Many also come in shy and withdrawn, but change when they gain experience, according to Sas. – Those who have been here for many seasons come in as employees and leave as seasonal managers with personnel responsibility for up to 17 other middle managers. It is a phenomenal development. The park director himself started working at the age of 12-13 and advises everyone to find a summer job. – If there is something you don’t like, you get to try yourself and get a sense of mastery. Doing something other than just lying on the beach for nine weeks. Increases the chances of receiving disability benefits According to Statistics Norway, around seven out of ten young people had a summer job at the turn of the millennium. The number has now reached six out of ten. There are more girls than boys who have summer jobs. An early summer job can also mean more than just a higher salary. Many who do not work when they are young do not work when they are adults either. – We also see that they take higher education to a greater extent than those who did not have a summer job. The chances of receiving disability benefits are also much greater among those who did not have a job, says Epland. – Gives a little extra After starting as a 15-year-old, Vebjørn Skavhaugen Linga has now become head of department in Bø Sommarland. He finds it very surprising that there are so many advantages to starting work early – both financially and socially. He believes that early work experience means that you learn to handle things, and that this is attractive to employers who want to employ people. – As a lifeguard, I have learned that it is not just about safety, but that it is often necessary to give the little one extra. SOON START OF SEASON: Vebjørn Skavhaugen Linga is now our department manager, but weeds dandelions and sweeps away debris and debris from the park area in Bø Sommarland ten days before the doors open. Photo: Martin Torstveit / news
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Summer jobs bring higher wages as adults – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
