Long Hot Summer for Teens
Learning job-hunting skills will be crucial for thousands of kids who can’t count on work from the city this year.
With budget cuts looming, New York’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which provides government-subsidized jobs to New Yorkers aged 14 to 21, will offer 35,000 spots, 7,000 fewer than last year.
“It’s extremely bleak,” said Cary Goodman, executive director of directions for Our Youth, a Manhattan non-profit, which is advocating for more government funding of the summer job program. “This is the primary source of jobs, especially for kids from poor neighborhoods.”
Explaining that the program cuts are the result of the weaker economy, Suzanne Lynn, deputy commissioner of the department of Youth and Community development, said, “Sometimes you have to make tough decisions.” The city’s funding of the program has grown 32% since 2004, she added.
On top of the city offering fewer summer jobs are employers that typically staff up, such as fast-food chains. Some high school students find themselves facing competition from adults seeking more work to help cope with rising bills.
Resources:
- Check www.nyc.gov/workforce1 for information. high schoolers should start in the office of their guidance counselors, who often hear first about listings. Kids younger than 18 will need to get signed working papers from their schools.
- Check out job Web sites that cater to kids, including www.teens4hire.org, www.snagajob.com, www.summerjobs.com and www.studentjobs.gov, which lists federal government jobs.
- The Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the city’s zoos as well as the New York Aquarium, has between 30 and 60 unfilled summer positions, said seasonal employment manager Zelle Jones. Applicants can learn more at www.wcs.org.
Source: NYDailyNews.com
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