Jeffrey Mosher speaks with Shamar Herron, Executive Director, Michigan Works! Southeast on behalf of the Michigan Works! Association to discuss how June is Youth Employment Month.

Click below to hear Shamar and Jeffrey’s pair of interviews in this podcast playlist! 

In this interview shared above Shamar reviews answers to questions such as:

I understand June is Youth Employment Month. Why is it important to call attention to this topic?

· Nearly all young people – 98.6 percent – hold at least one job between the ages of 18 and 25.

· The average young person holds 6.3 jobs between 18 and 25 – some work part-time or summers only, while others see full-time, permanent employment as their pat to economic independence.

· Employment can be beneficial for youth by teaching responsibility, organization, and time management and helping to establish good work habits, experience, and financial stability.

· There are many advantages to working during high school, especially for low-income youth, including higher employment rates and wages in later teen years and lower probabilities of dropping out of high school.

· Knowing how to find and keep a job is not only critical for admission to the adult world but also is an important survival skill for which there is little in the way of formal, structured preparation.

 

Why are youth employment programs so important?

· By 2025, the overwhelming majority of U.S. jobs will demand some post-secondary education or specialized training.

· Youth who participate in youth education programs are often the first in line to be trained in skill sets that are sorely needed in today’s job market and gain real-world working experiences that increase their marketability.

· Youth employment has proven to help build young people to be ready for the world’s job market as well as boost their self-esteem and develop soft skills.

· Some of those soft skills include:

o Creative thinking

o Time management

o Teamwork

o Problem-solving

o Critical thinking

o Communication

· It has also been proven that youth employment has reduced the number of crimes in communities through keeping teenagers busy with work opportunities during the summer.

 

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity recently awarded Young Professionals grants to Michigan Works! agencies across the state. What are these grants for?

· A total of $2 million in Young Professionals grants were awarded in April across the Michigan Works! agencies.

· These grants are designed to reduce youth unemployment and place young adults, ages 14-24, on the right path to achieve lifelong economic self-sufficiency.

· The grants support young adults who are struggling on the path to obtain employment by exposing them to multiple career and educational opportunities, such as entering a Registered Apprenticeship program, earning a college degree or certificate, and obtaining sustainable employment.

· Michigan Works! Southeast received $110,000 in Young Professionals grants.

· Michigan Works! knows these youth employment experiences can be life changing.

· Nearly 45 percent of Michigan high school students are economically disadvantaged and could benefit from preparation for and entry into employment.

· These grants will help reduce the impact of high-risk factors, including poverty, while providing an opportunity to earn valuable income for themselves and their families.

· The Young Professionals grant program aligns with Michigan’s 60 by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60 percent by 2030.

 

I know Michigan Works! Southeast participates in a youth employment program called SummerWorks. Can you tell me more about this program?

· Michigan Works! Southeast partners with Washtenaw County, and other community partners, on the SummerWorks program.

· SummerWorks is a 10-week summer employment and mentorship program that pairs local employers with young adults aged 16-24.

· It connects youth to resources for building professional networks, exploring career opportunities, and developing essential job and leadership skills.

· In the past, the program’s primary focus has been placing young people in summer jobs with local employers.

· Since the COVID-19 pandemic, SummerWorks has offered young participants professional development, connections with mentors, and opportunities to learn from guest speakers about career paths in a variety of industries.

· SummerWorks prepares young adults for careers that may not be accessible outside of the program.

· By connecting young people in our community to resources for professional development, career exploration, and mentorship, they are better prepared to find long-term employment after the program ends and take the next steps toward their future careers.

 

How can our listeners learn more about the Michigan Works! network?

· You can visit the Association website where you can find a map that will link you to the websites of each of our Michigan Works! organizations.