The Summer 2010 Youth Employment Program

2,700 14 - 24 Year Olds "On the Job" - "out-of-school" youth programs go through September.

Did you have a job this summer? If you did, you are one of the lucky ones.  According to the Natl Bureau of Labor Statistics: The youth unemployment rate hit 19.1 percent in July, the highest unemployment rate for that month since the government began tracking such data in 1948. July is typically the summertime peak in youth employment. The percentage of young people who want or have a job has actually been trending down since a peak in 1989, when 77. 5 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds participated in the labor force. Still, the recession appears to have caused even more high school and college students to opt out of even trying to find a job. The labor force participation rate for 16- to 24-year-olds was 60.5 percent in July, the lowest on record and down 2.5 percentage points from July of 20. See the full report here.

2010 SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PHOTOS The 2010 Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program gives youth opportunities for job readiness, leadership and decision making.  The program is funded by the State of Connecticut - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) with leveraged funds from select municipalities and foundations.   CLICK HERE to see the image gallery of this rich and multi-faceted program! July 14, 2010 - Governor Congratulates New Britain Youth in the FHITEC Program for Their Help With the Environment - The Environmental Track of the FHITEC (Finance, Health, Information Technology, Environmental Careers)  Youth Employment Program was honored by Governor M.  Jodi  Rell at New Britain High School. This program’s purpose is to learn about and help the environment in and around the communities in which the youth workers  live. Governor Rell showed her appreciation by coming and speaking     to the youths, and thanking them for their hard work and dedication.  (story by marketing intern Marcus Allen Johnson) Click here for Governor's Press Release

HELP ME - find a job, get a GED, get career counseling...

The Seven Career Competencies

Do you have what you need to have a successful career?

Click here for the Career Competencies Website

Meet Alexander Foxworth - who testifiied at the February 24, 2010 Statewide Youth Employment Summit at the Legislative Office Building.  Alexander spoke about his exoerience in 2009 as part of New Haven's Youth @ Work Program and his internship at the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce.

Meet Deirdre Willingham- who testifiied at the February 24, 2010 Statewide Youth Employment Summit at the Legislative Office Building.  Deirdre spoke about her exoerience in 2009 as part of Hartford's Our Piece of the Pie Program and her internship at the Hooker and Holcombe that led to her decision to study to become an actuary.

YOUTH ADVOCACY TOOLBOX

 CAREER CONNECTIONS

Career Connections – What’s it All About?
In response to feedback from business leaders and recruiters, as well as from the region’s young people, particularly in the urban areas that Capital Workforce Partners serves, there has been a shift to a year-round focus for internships in the private sector, made available to high school seniors. An adjunct to the sought after Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program which provides learning and employment opportunities to youths 14+ (Tiers 1 – 3), this top end Tier 4 program aims to provide high school seniors meaningful exposure to the private sector workplace through a number of high-touch initiatives such as:
•  Career Exploration Days

•  Job Shadowing Opportunities

•  Field Trips and Company Tours

•  Internships and Pre-Apprenticeships

•  And, more.

High school seniors are selected based on their progressiveness in meeting standardized career competencies, their previous experience in employment and learning opportunities and the completion of a learning plan, resume and portfolio. They are also selected based on their interviewing skills, computer skills (when applicable) and customer service delivery.  Seniors may have obtained these pre-requisites in Tiers 1 – 3 of the Summer Youth  Employment and Learning Program. The launch of this new program has replaced the annual YES Academy program. The new program, aptly named:  Career Connections was launched in the Fall of 2006.  To obtain more information, contact Program Coordinator Althea Webber at 860-522-1111 x342 or awebber@capitalworkforce.org.