NJ Labor Department Launches $2M Summer Youth Employment Program

Interns in high-unemployment areas to receive summer jobs, work readiness skills

TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s (NJDOL) Office of Youth Programs has awarded $2 million to 7 counties and the City of Newark to provide teens and young adults in high-unemployment areas with paid summer internships.

The Summer Youth Employment Pilot Program (SYEPP) seeks to mitigate youth poverty, unemployment, and crime rates by providing in-school and out-of-school youth, ages 16-24, with summer employment meant to encourage a successful transition to the workforce.

“We’re proud to make this investment in our local workforce partners,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “This program will help our young workers take their first steps of long career path this summer.”

Approximately 760 youths in the counties of Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Essex, Mercer, Passaic, and Union, and the City of Newark, will benefit from the program by working 20 to 30 hours a week, earning $10.50 per hour, and participating in four hours of work readiness training per week. The areas were selected for the pilot program based on the combined criteria of high rates of youth poverty, youth unemployment, and justice-involved youth.

The program aims to partner with public and private employers in high-growth industries to provide opportunities to the participants. Besides learning new skills and being introduced to new career options, the interns will be taught the basics of work, including employee benefits, pay schedules, attendance, and dress code. Their work experience will also cover soft skills training such as financial literacy, resume building, entrepreneurship skills, diversity training, and prevention of workplace harassment training.

The SYEPP funding is provided through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Any employer or youth interested in this program should contact their local participating Workforce Development Board via the information below.

Atlantic County WDB

https://atlanticcountywdb.com/

Camden County WDB

http://ccwib.com/home.html

Cumberland-Salem-Cape May WDB

http://www.co.cumberland.nj.us/content/22602/23188/24016/25192.aspx

Essex County WDB

http://essexcountynj.org/economic-dev-training-employment/

Mercer County WDB

http://www.mercercounty.org/boards-commissions/workforce-development-board-296

Newark City WDB

http://www.newarkwdb.org/

Passaic County WDB

http://wdbpc.org/

Union County WDB

http://ucnj.org/wdb/

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