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Listen to the PodcastWorking a summer job teaches young people communication skills and fiscal responsibility, and introduces them to the basics of business. However, youth summer jobs also have the potential to improve educational outcomes and disrupt cycles of economic inequality and crime. According to a study conducted by the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), an affiliate of Case Western Reserve University, youth who participate in the SYEP summer jobs program have better school attendance, higher graduation rates, fewer juvenile delinquency filings, and lower incarceration rates in adulthood. According to this study, the benefits of a summer job extend far beyond wages earned.
All members of the workforce have felt the impacts of COVID-19, but those who were already most at risk were disproportionately impacted. Disengaged youth (ages 16 to 24) were among the hardest hit with unemployment jumping to nearly 30 percent in April 2020 as opposed to 13 percent among older adults. At this critical point in their lives, many teens are unable to find employment that builds their self-esteem and provides them with skills, experiences, and connections that can change the trajectory of their lives.
Join us as local leaders discuss the importance of summer jobs, their influence on career preparedness, and the role of summer employment in disrupting cycles of economic inequality– specifically for Black and Brown youth in our community.
The livestream will be available beginning at 12:30 p.m. Have questions? Tweet them at @TheCityClub or send a text to 330.541.5794.
