APA Resolution on Developmental Risks and Opportunities in Adolescent Employment
Approved by APA Council of Representatives, August 2023
APA makes a call for all stakeholders—including, but not limited to, psychologists, health care professionals, employers, educators, and policymakers—to:
- Advocate for federal and private funding and new avenues for research on adolescent labor within the present-day context, including extension of the research on adult employment and longitudinal developmental science with diverse populations that may clarify unique risks and opportunities for employment during adolescence that affect the lifespan.
- Advance equity and social justice efforts to protect the human rights and well-being of marginalized youth and their families in the labor market. This includes promoting research with diverse populations that examines biopsychosocial factors at multisystemic levels (micro, meso, exo, macro) for developing policy, considering that the landscape for adolescent employment differs among youth from various backgrounds, family contexts, and lived experiences.
Date created: August 2023