Gen Z High School Workers: An AI-Driven Mixed-Methods Study of Labor-Law Literacy and Career Impact

Gen Z high school students in Massachusetts work part-time in retail, food service, and other entry level roles, yet often lack awareness of their legal rights. These early employment experiences shape career trajectories both positively and negatively. This study employs an Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven mixed-methods design combining a quantitative online survey of eighty-nine students with ethnographic field observations of more than twenty teen workers. The survey measured knowledge of labor protections, attitudes toward workplace compliance, and career readiness. The ethnographic component provided contextual insights through firsthand observation and engagement. To enhance analytical rigor and efficiency, Microsoft Azure AutoML was utilized to classify survey responses, while GPT-4 was employed for thematic coding of open-ended data, enabling reduced manual effort and improved accuracy in identifying sentiment and themes. Findings reveal a significant gap in legal awareness that may hinder both student well-being and career progression. The data shows that 42 percent of teens have never received any training on workplace rights, 53 percent want instruction on labor law and youth protections, while two-thirds believe high schools should be required to provide it. This knowledge gap poses a risk to both student well-being and future career growth. Hence, the study recommends that schools incorporate a brief labor rights unit into required courses and collaborate with employers and unions to offer free or low-cost membership in youth worker councils, enabling Gen Z students to enter the workforce informed, safe, and prepared.