Wanted: Summer jobs for youth

Employment agencies reach out to firms

Employment agencies in Broward and Palm Beach counties are seeking local companies to invest in tomorrow’s workers.

CareerSource Broward County is looking for about 10 more companies for its Summer Youth Employment Program to provide a “meaningful work experience” for students ages 16 to 18 over an eight-week period between June and August. Four employers have committed so far, the agency said.

Palm Beach County’s CareerSource agency also is kicking off its 2018 summer program, and is looking to recruit both employers and young adults, ages 17 to 24. Applications will be available in mid-April.

CareerSource Broward hopes to place about 750 students this year in its program. About 700 students participated last summer.

Program manager Latema King said she would like to match students with an employer in their area of career interest. “I’m trying to get some employers that are technology-based. I’m getting a lot of youth interested in that work,” King said.

Medical and accounting internships are also being requested by Broward’s young adults, she said.

Businesses are asked for $990 to sponsor a youth, but remaining program costs are covered by CareerSource Broward and the Children’s Services Council of Broward County.

Broward’s summer program typically has more than 4,000 applicants, King said. It is scheduled to start June 18, and the application period for youths ended in January.

Open only to Broward residents, the summer program includes a three-day, paid training period that focuses on job-readiness skills, professionalism and expectations.

“Teaching our youth how to effectively apply soft