County Aims to Help Teens Find Jobs

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors earlier this week approved a $3.5 million program aimed to create at least 2,200 summer jobs for young people across the county.

The overall unemployment rate in Los Angeles County is 11.9 percent, according to the state Employment Development Department's latest numbers in May.

But the unemployment rate for young people has reached 26.9 percent, according to the board.

"In these tough economic times, young people are really struggling to find employment, which limits their ability to gain necessary experience for the future," said Supervisor Don Knabe. "This program will give them that experience and life skills, while providing local organizations with invaluable resources and support."

Under the program, the board plans to place teens in new clerical, maintenance, grounds keeping, or assistance jobs within county or city departments and nonprofit and for-profit organizations, Knabe said. 

Teens in foster care, on probation or those whose families receive government assistance will be given priority.

Statewide, the unemployment rate for teenagers is 34.2 percent, the second highest in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate for young people in California last year was 34.5 percent.

City News Service contributed to this report.