Mayor Bill de Blasio and DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong have disclosed that the 2018 Summer Youth Employment Program is expected to provide jobs for up to 75,000 young New Yorkers. According to the Mayor’s Office, under the de Blasio Administration, the number of available positions for young people between the ages of 14 and 24 has more than doubled. SYEP, launched in 1963, is the nation’s largest summer youth employment initiative, and provides up to six weeks of entry-level experience at worksites in all five boroughs.
“This summer, 75,000 of New York City’s young people have access to the opportunities that employment provides. We are leveraging the resources of the City to ensure young people can obtain real-world job training, explore career interests, and have a productive summer,” said Mayor de Blasio. “When we invest in our City’s kids, we invest in our future.”
Mayor de Blasio launched the Center for Youth Employment through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC in May 2015. It works with 60 philanthropic partners and the private sector to help expand the City’s employment services for young New Yorkers, including SYEP. In collaboration with City agencies, employers and other stakeholders, the Center for Youth Employment is focused on increasing private sector involvement in these programs.
“I am proud the Council’s support of the Summer Youth Employment Program helped expand the number of SYEP slots to a record number of 75,000 slots this summer. Getting 75,000 young people meaningful, paid, work experience is critical to ensuring their future success. The Council will continue to support the Summer Youth Employment Program, its providers, and its participants as it is a key youth program that has a positive impact on young people in every part of this City,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.
“In a city with so many thriving industries and opportunities, summer employment is one of the most valuable experiences we can provide our teens and young adults. With this historic increase to 75,000 jobs, more young people will have a meaningful workplace experience this summer. Connecting our City’s young people with jobs will provide them with the knowledge that builds the foundation for lifelong career success,” said Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives.
“SYEP gave me my first introduction into the workforce, and my love of public service is a result of this program, which positively affected the career choices I have made. Every year we give more and more young people the chance at an internship that could change the trajectory of their careers. Through SYEP, Ladders for Leaders and other City-funded initiatives, teens and young adults have been exposed to everything from crime scene forensics to computer coding to advertising. I could not be more proud of leading an agency that supports a program that has been instilling confidence, a strong work ethic and important skills in hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers for more than a half-century,” said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong.
