Findings from the first four annual survey rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 provided data on employment experiences of a nationally representative sample of about 9,000 young men and women born during 1980-84. The survey indicated that the percent of students employed in employee jobs during any week of the 1999-2000 school year and following summer remained fairly stable from September to February and increased during the spring. The percentage rose sharply in early summer and peaked during July. The five occupations that employed the most differed greatly between the sexes but changed only slightly from school to summer months. Occupations changed among age groups. Cook was the most common occupation for males aged 16 and 18; among males aged 18 at the start of the school year, construction laborer was the second most common occupation during the school year and most common summer occupation. Cashier was the most common occupation for females aged 16, 17, and 18, during the school year or summer. Males and females were equally likely to hold an employee job while age 16, 17, or 18. At the same time, females were more likely to hold freelance or self-employed jobs at these ages. Youths were more likely to work as they got older: 60 percent who did not work while age 15 worked at some point while age 16, and 68 percent who did not work at age 17 worked at some point while age 18. (Seven tables and a graph illustrate these findings.) (YLB)