The most dangerous and often fatal jobs for American teenagers

Summertime is in full swing and hopefully, your teen sons and daughters have successfully procured a lucrative job for themselves as they await the impending return of the school year.  Of interest to parents and teens should be an awareness of those occupations that have been proving most dangerous and, in some instances, fatal to the teenaged worker.

And now, a new study has emerged revealing the most dangerous professions in which our U.S. teenagers are being employed.  

Personal Injury Firm Suzuki Law Offices examined workplace deaths among U.S. teenagers (16-19) across various job roles from 2020-2022. Average death rates alongside average teen employment figures were analyzed to determine the death rate per 5,000 teenage workers for each profession. 

Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics are first, with 2.5 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers.  This occupation involves inspecting, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and machinery used in various industries. Between 2020 and 2022, the profession employed 6,000 teenagers and witnessed three deaths.  

Carpenters are second, with 1.4 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers.  Although a broad term, carpentry mainly focuses on designing, constructing, installing, and repairing furniture. With around 28,670 teenagers employed annually, this profession averages eight teenage deaths each year. 

In joint third are construction laborers and security guards and gambling surveillance officers, with 0.96 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers.  

Construction laborerswork at construction sites, where  they build, clean, and move project materials, and deal with debris and hazards. 48 teenage deaths were recorded in this profession across the three years examined. 

Security guards and gambling surveillance officers protect people and properties, including casinos, and ensure procedures are being followed correctly. An average of three teenage deaths were calculated each year for this profession. 

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations are fourth, with 0.7 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers.  This occupation includes animal breeders, farmworkers and forest and conservation workers. Employing an average of 71,333 teenagers a year, the profession recorded 30 teenage deaths between 2020 and 2022. 

Construction and extraction occupations are fifth, with 0.51 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers. 

Painters, roofers, and electricians are all professionals in this occupation, which employs an average of 194,330 teenagers a year, with around 20 teenage deaths annually.  

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers are sixth, with 0.49 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers. 17 teenage deaths were reported in this profession between 2020 and 2022, averaging 5.7 each year. 

In seventh are other protective service workers, with 0.24 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers. Employing 219,000 teenagers in the years studied, this profession recorded 11 teenage deaths. 

Joint eighth are installation, maintenance, and repair occupations, protective service occupations, and miscellaneous agricultural workers, with 0.23 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers. 

Ninth are building and ground cleaning and maintenance occupations, with 0.21 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers. 

Transportation and material moving occupations are tenth, with 0.14 deaths per 5,000 teenage workers. 

Rank	Occupation	Number of deaths per 5,000 worked aged 16-19
1	Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics	2.5
2	Carpenters	1.4
3	Construction laborers  Security guards and gambling surveillance officers	0.96
4	Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	0.7
5	Construction and extraction occupations	0.51
6	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	0.49
7	Other protective service workers	0.24
8	Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations  Protective service occupations  Miscellaneous agricultural workers	0.23
9	Building and ground cleaning and maintenance occupations	0.21
10	Transportation and material moving occupations	0.14

Richard Suzuki from Suzuki Law Offices has commented on the findings: “Entering into the world of work and earning your own money is an exciting time for many teenagers.  However, it’s important to understand the risks involved with certain occupations, particularly those that involve physical labor.”  

“This data also serves as a call to action for these professions, urging them to prioritize the protection of younger members of our society.” 

Below, see the full ranking beyond the top 10 for the most dangerous jobs for U.S. teens.

Rank	Occupation	Number of deaths per 5,000 worked aged 16-19
1	Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics	2.5
2	Carpenters	1.4
3	Construction laborers  Security guards and gambling surveillance officers	0.96
4	Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	0.7
5	Construction and extraction occupations	0.51
6	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	0.49
7	Other protective service workers	0.24
8	Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations  Protective service occupations  Miscellaneous agricultural workers	0.23
9	Building and ground cleaning and maintenance occupations	0.21
10	Transportation and material moving occupations	0.14
11	Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers	0.12
12	Production occupations	0.1
13	Management occupations  Fast food and counter workers	0.07
14	Retail salespersons	0.04
15	Office and administrative support occupations  Waiters and waitresses	0.03
16	Food preparation and serving related occupations	0.02

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(Source: Suzuki Law Offices)

Methodology:  Data obtained from the BLS.  For each profession, workplace deaths and employment figures for workers aged 16-19 between 2020 and 2022 were examined.  Average yearly employment figures were determined alongside average yearly deaths. These figures were then used to calculate the number of deaths per 5,000 16–19-year-olds in each occupation. 

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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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