Teenagers have plenty of opportunities for jobs with good pay this summer, and many are jumping at the chance to make some money.

Driving the news: In April, the labor participation rate for 16- to 19-year-olds in Minnesota reached 54.9%, the highest level since 2008, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Why it matters: The jobs provide an opportunity for teens to learn new skills and make cash to pay for college or living expenses.

• Meanwhile, employers can use all the help they can get, especially in food service and retail, as well as industries that rely on seasonal labor in the summer.

Reality check: Teen labor participation in Minnesota is still well below the early 2000s when 64% of teens were working.

• Labor participation declined during the 2000s as kids spent more time on academics and lower-wage jobs were less plentiful, according to the Brookings Institution.

Between the lines: It's easy to see why more youngsters are getting jobs, as median hourly wages for teens surpassed $15 an hour last summer — a 13.4% increase over the summer of 2021, per DEED data.

The bottom line: With retail and hospitality businesses still facing a labor shortage, "there should be an abundance of job opportunities for youth who want to work this summer," wrote DEED researcher Oriane Casale.

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Dropping your teen off to spend a day at the amusement park or mall might be a thing of the past as some Twin Cities businesses are instituting age restrictions and chaperone policies.

Driving the news: Valleyfair in Shakopee is now requiring teens 15 and under to be accompanied by someone over the age of 21 after 4pm.

• Some movie theaters, including AMC Rosedale, already mandate adult supervision after 7pm for those under 18, while teens under 16 need to be with someone at least 21 to be in Mall of America after 3pm.

Why it matters: Malls, movie theaters, and amusement parks have historically been safe and "cool" spots for teens looking to spend a parent-free, summer day with friends, but those places are slowly becoming harder to access.

Plus: Gathering spaces are important to adolescent development, as they allow teenagers to establish and practice their independence, said Sylia Wilson, a professor of child development at the University of Minnesota.

• "If we're minimizing these family-friendly spots, they're still going to explore. But the locations might not be as safe and secure," she added.

The other side: Mall of America's policy has helped combat problems before they arise, vice president of security Will Bernhjelm told Axios.

• Mall officers stationed at entrances stop anyone who looks under 21, said Bernhjelm.
• "We know not all the teens we escort out are bad, but it gives us a proactive measure to address unsupervised kids before they can cause trouble. We want kids there, just with their parents."

Twin Cities parks departments are seeking to fill that void with activities that go beyond the swimming pool and open gym.

What's happening: From drone camp to open mic nights, officials in Minneapolis and St. Paul are experimenting with new, low- or no-cost programming for teens in a bid to keep them busy and engaged this summer.

What they're saying: Shaina Abraham, St. Paul's recreation services manager, told Axios that offering a range of creative activities helps teens try new things and "figure out who they are in the world."

Zoom in: Here are some of the new things happening this summer:

🎤 St. Paul Parks and Recreation is partnering with radio station WFMU to host a series of talent show-style open mic nights dubbed the "St. Paul Get Down."

🕹️ Teens who prefer video games will find Xboxes and PlayStations throughout the city’s rec centers.

🐦 Minneapolis is gamifying its effort to get more teens to spend time outdoors with a summer challenge that includes activities like urban birding, volleyball, and fishing, Recreation Centers and Programs director Nicole Hernandez told Axios.

🎥 The city also expanded its "Spark'd" creative studios initiative to provide hands-on experience with graphic design, video, and music production in more neighborhoods.

🤖 Both cities are debuting drone camps as part of a push to add more STEM programming.

Read the full story to find out how these activities can help curb youth crime.

Long before we wrote the Axios Twin Cities newsletter, we had our own adventures in summer labor.

⛳️ Torey's most memorable summer jobs as a teen were working at the Dutton Berry Farmstand in Newfane, Vt., and driving the beer cart on the golf course at the Brattleboro Country Club.

🛳 Nick's first summer job was caddying at Hillcrest Golf Course (RIP) when he was 12 and 13.

• He spent every other summer of his youth working on the Padelford Riverboats in St. Paul, first changing engine oil and later bartending and captaining the boats.

🧺 Audrey spent two summers working in the University of Minnesota equipment room, where she washed hundreds of athletes' dirty laundry in an unventilated room. The smell still haunts her.

📢 Weigh in: What was your summer job as a teenager? We'll include some responses in an upcoming edition.