As the school year wound down, many teens turned away from lazy summer days spent on the couch and instead turned toward the workforce.

In Durango, teens are employed in a variety of industries including retail, food service and tourism.

According to the Colorado Department of Labor, about 40% of the state’s teens ages 16 to 19 have actively participated in the workforce over the last year.

Most teens entering the workforce are motivated by the money, said Ryan Gallegos an employment specialist in the Durango Workforce Center.

“A lot of high schoolers just want to start saving money, whether that’s for college, buying a new pair of sneakers or their parents are telling them ‘hey, we’re not paying for that thing you want.’”

For some, holding a summer job can make a world of difference.

Daniela Chavarro, who graduated from Durango High School in May, works at Cream Bean Berry and is going to be a first generation college student. As she prepares to head to Colorado State University, Fort Collins this fall, she says the money she saves from working will make the transition possible.

“I got a lot of economic help with scholarships, but I still need to save money,” she said. “My parents work all day and it’s not enough. It would be hard from them to help me financially,.”

For teens who are not working to support themselves, holding a job also provides an opportunity to learn how to budget and save before they are faced with significant bills.

Jessica Smith, communications manager for the Colorado Department of Labor, cites Colorado’s high minimum wage as a potential motivator for high schoolers to join the workforce.

With relatively low overhead costs, high schoolers can save a lot of the money they make. Colorado’s minimum wage is $13.65 and $10.63 for tipped employees, which is significantly higher than the national minimum wage of $7.25.

Another incentive for high schoolers to enter the workforce is the prospect of gaining experience that can be applied to future occupational and academic endeavors said Gallegos.

Holding jobs can increase college preparedness as well as help teens develop soft stills, such as time management and customer service, said Amanda Waltrip, the assistant director for the Western and Southwest workforce centers.

Ryan Montoya, a 2023 graduate who works as a cashier and dishwasher at Rice Monkeys, said holding a job throughout high school has taught him how to balance his academic and professional life, a skill he says will translate well into college.

Even if teens don’t enjoy the jobs they are working, Waltrip said there’s value in that, too.

She said sometimes teens will work a job for a summer, realize it’s not the right fit for them, and change direction.

“I think (working can) greatly impact the student’s future from a young age,” she said. “I know it did for me. I was working at age 15½ as a chambermaid, and I knew I wanted to go to college after about a full summer of doing that job.”

Holding a job in high school can also make teens more attractive applicants for scholarships, Gallegos said.

“Work experience can be seen as work ethic,” he said. “They’re not just going to school and taking the summer off, they’re continuing to work year round.”

For some teens, a full year-round schedule adds to the appeal of holding a summer job.

Sella Thompson, a rising freshman at DHS working as a barista at Magpies Newsstand & Cafe, said she first started working because she got bored sitting at home in the summers.

“Last year, my sister worked here and I would volunteer,” she said. “Then they started paying me. I like the work environment, it’s really nice, it’s not too hard, and I think its just a really fun place to work. And I like working downtown.”

Stella and her sister, Hadley, were drawn to work at Magpies because their aunt owns the shop, but they both said they also love the work and interacting with customers.

For those who are unsure of what kind of job they want, Gallegos said Durango Workforce Center is full of resources to help.

“I have an entire list of jobs specifically for the youth through the city,” he said. “We can just give you some tips, pointers, guidance with that they are looking for.”

Durango Workforce Center offers a variety of resources designed to connect employers with employees. The services, which are available for all ages at no cost, include portfolio- and résumé-building assistance.

Having work experience to add to a résumé can be invaluable for teen workers, Gallegos said. As teens build their repertoire of experience and recommendations, they can become more attractive applicants to employers.

However, even if they lack work experience to put on their résumé, Waltrip said teens should not be deterred from applying for jobs.

“We often find that teens probably have quite a bit of experience, even if it isn’t paid experience,” she said. “(Between) things like volunteering, or babysitting, they probably have a lot more experience than they realize.”

Additionally, many employers hiring teenage staff members understand that a lot of applicants will not have a résumé full of work experience.

“The main thing I look for in a young person is the ability to connect with me personally,” said Sanford Johnson, who manages Pine Needle Dry Goods. “I want to know that they communicate well – look someone in the face, shake hands and maybe tell a little bit about themselves effectively.”

lveress@durangoherald.com