City Encourages Teens to Get Summer Jobs

City of San Diego officials pledged $200,000 in funding to a program that gives teens better access to summer jobs.

The local program, called Hire-A-Youth, wasn't just designed to get teens off the couch during their summer vacations, said City Councilmember Sherri Lightner. It would help San Diego out too.

“This really is an investment in our future,” Lightner said. “We need to grow our Hire-A-Youth program so all of our teens and young adults have the job skills they need to be a productive part of our local workforce.”

About 30 percent of teens hold summer jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's the lowest level since WWII.

The program gives people ages 16-21 job training, connections to internship opportunities, resume-writing tips and interview skills.

City Council President Tony Young said the program should help to grow the local economy. His office estimates that for every dollar spent on the program, there’s a $1.91 direct impact to San Diego’s economy.

Hire-A-Youth is run by the San Diego Workforce Partnership.