Hartford, CT – Capital Workforce Partners (CWP) has received an unprecedented number of applications for the 2025 Summer Youth Employment & Learning Program (SYELP), already exceeding the total number of students enrolled in the program in 2024. This increase reflects a significant demand for youth workforce development programs in the North Central Region of Connecticut.
SYELP provides Connecticut youth, ages 14-24, in the North Central Region with career exploration and paid work experience each summer. With the current recommended state funding levels reduced by 50% from the previous year, far fewer young people will have access to these opportunities, which support job readiness training and employability skills. This comes at a time when youth workforce development is a top priority for business and industry, as they seek to build a strong talent pipeline.
“The volume of applications submitted this year further illustrates the level of interest and need for youth employment programs,” said Alex Johnson, President & CEO of Capital Workforce Partners. “The availability of resources determines how many young people can participate, and changes in funding impact access to these opportunities.”
Last year, CWP received a total of 3,807 applications for SYELP, with 1,310 youth ultimately participating in the program. Applications opened on March 19, 2025, and as of March 30, the number of applications submitted has already reached 1,863—surpassing last year’s pace and further underscoring the growing demand for summer employment opportunities.
The projected 50% reduction in funding for the CT Youth Employment Program—from $10 million in 2024 to $5 million for 2025—would result in fewer than 1,000 youth being served in the North Central Connecticut region.
The Connecticut Legislature is reviewing the need to ensure that all youth who apply for employment opportunities are served without waitlists, as recommended by the recently published Young People First report by the 119K Commission. This would require at least $25 million to expand access to youth employment programs and serve all applicants.
CWP shares this information to raise awareness about the importance of supporting the 119K Commission’s recommendation. SYELP applications will remain open through the spring in the hope that the Legislature will restore CT Youth Employment funding to last year’s levels of $10 million and consider increasing it to $25 million to meet demand.