For decades, summer jobs have been part of a teenager's financial independence – but how important are they to their development?

This year's summer will not go down in history books as one of the sunniest or driest on record, but for many young people, June to August is still a vital time in their growth and maturity.

Summer jobs – the age-old transition from childhood to adulthood – are still as common as ever, and as this year's cohort of young people enters the workforce, reporter Josh Crosbie has asked; how important are summer jobs?

Reporting for The Pat Kenny Show, Josh spoke to locals – young and old – in the capital, as they reminisced on their first independent job.

"I was fruit picking as a 12-year-old and collecting paper plates and rubbish in Phoenix Park racecourse when you could work when you were 13," he said.

"You got 5p for a box of raspberries and you got 10p for a big punnet of gooseberries."

'Independence'

One woman said her introduction to work was as a waitress in Cork.

"I just loved it, loved waitressing, money in the pocket, my own independence," she said.

One bar owner said young people are eager to enter the workforce.

"We get a lot of students who are dropping their CVs and hoping to get summer work," he said.

'Relatable'

Lucy, a tour guide at the Jeanie Johnston ship, said her studies in history are helping her during her summer work.

"With one of my courses during the year, we actually came to visit the ship and I have to explain to my lecturer that I work here so that was a little bit awkward," she said.

"It ended up being nice in the end, and sure it got me some brownie points with that professor."

Fort Lucan Adventureland, a well-known location for first-time workers, said it's a "huge thing" for them to employ young staff.

"Having the young people around, I feel like they're a lot more relatable with the younger kids," said grounds manager Jack.

"120 staff at the moment, almost everyone's first job is here – we love hiring the younger people."

'Rights'

The Irish Second-Level Students Union (ISSU) communications officer Leo Galvin said young people often don't feel valued in the workplace.

"Young people don't take their rights when they enter the workforce and they'll be happy with what they have," he said.

"They're being mistreated, and to a certain degree, they don't even know it sometimes.

"We've met young people who believe the minimum wage is €4.50 or €4.70 ... some don't even think that they need a contract or they need payslips."

Mr Galvin said the ISSU wants to see the removal of the sub-minimum wage.

"Young people cannot be discriminated against on the basis of age and it's equal work and it should be equal pay," he said.

You can listen back here: