Hire Houston Youth Kicks Off Its Second Year

HOUSTON, TX — Mayor Sylvester Turner kicked off the second edition of Hire Houston Youth on Monday at a breakfast at McDonalds. The program leverages public/private partnerships to help find summer employment and internships for people 16 through 24 years of age.

“Never before have this many summer jobs been offered for Houston youth,” Turner said. “We are taking this program to historic levels. Summer employment provides young people with an opportunity to gain workforce readiness skills, engages them in positive activities during the summer, and links them to long-term career opportunities. An able and ready workforce is also critical to ensuring a robust economic future for our city. I am committed to providing summer jobs for our young people who live in the city and I call on our corporate partners to work together with the City of Houston to Hire Houston’s Youth.”

According to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, fewer than a third of teens in America held a summer job in 2016, and the demographic group's participation in the labor force is at an all-time low.

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Applications for jobs in the Hire Houston Youth program are being accepted online at www.hirehoustonyouth.org. In addition, six job fairs (see graphic below) are planned around Houston beginning on April 22. Applications are asked to bring their resumes and employment eligibility documentation.

In 2016, 57 companies participated in the program, and 1,135 jobs were filled. More than 50 percent of candidates had no work experience, according to the city, and 50 percent came from households with annual incomes of less than $22,000. Hire Houston Youth is a White House Summer Opportunity Hub and part of a National League of Cities study on the best practices for educational and workforce development efforts.

— Images: City of Houston