07/13/2026
Youth who are exposed to more opportunities learn faster, do better in school, set goals early, tend to matriculate to careers or college, where if you don’t have some of those opportunities you just get lost.
Employers who do hire teens say they see firsthand how working can help young people grow.
David Lau and Guy Roeseler own Ono Kine Grindz, a Hawaiian restaurant in Wauwatosa. Since opening 16 years ago, they estimate they have employed over 100 teenagers.
“When you go out in the world, you have to have social skills, that they learn [working at the restaurant],” said David Lau, “It is incredible when they first come in, and when they leave us it is a whole new person.”
Student employees feel the same way.
“I learn good scheduling, how to be punctual, multiple tasks, making sure everyone is served, getting food on time,” 17-year-old employee Matthew Jaworski said as he prepared a takeout order of tuna poke.
Lau and Roeseler agree that hiring teens makes a difference in the community, something they encourage other small business owners to consider doing.
Teen job opportunities this summer have dropped to the lowest level on record.
