TAMPA AND CLEARWATER, Fla. – CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas is taking action to address the growing concern of “opportunity youth” – young adults aged 16 to 24 who are disconnected from both school and work.
Building on the momentum of their October summit focused on this issue, CareerSource is launching a Summer Youth Initiative to provide meaningful employment opportunities and support to these individuals.
“Opportunity youth” represents a significant loss of human capital and potential, with research indicating potential risks to their emotional, behavioral, and physical health and high social and economic costs. In 2023, CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas identified 27,305 young people in the region who fit this category.
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The Summer Youth Initiative aims to reconnect these young adults with the workforce through:
- Paid Summer Employment: Participants will have access to paid summer jobs, earning $15 per hour for up to 20 hours per week over a six-week period.
- Career Exploration: The program will provide opportunities for career exploration and exposure to in-demand occupations in the region.
- Professional Development: Participants will benefit from workshops focused on developing essential skills like teamwork, communication, leadership, and problem-solving.
“The unification of our workforce development services has given us a historic opportunity to transform how we support young people in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties,” said Keidrian Kunkel, CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas CEO. “This summer, our Summer Jobs Initiative will be focused on ensuring that these young people can regain access to purposeful work experiences that build skills, confidence, and pathways to long-term success.”
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The initiative is a collaborative effort, bringing together businesses, educators, and community leaders to create a stronger workforce pipeline for the future. Employers from both counties are encouraged to participate and help shape the next generation of talent.
“The Opportunity Youth Workforce Summit was a crucial first step in bringing together business, education, and community leaders to tackle the challenges facing disengaged young people in Tampa Bay,” said board chair Barclay Harless. “Now, we’re building on that momentum, ensuring that more young people in Hillsborough and Pinellas have access to meaningful employment opportunities.”
Applications for both youth participants and employers are currently being accepted.
Application for Youth may be accessed with the links below:
Employer applications are currently being accepted via the links below:
- Summer P.A.Y.S. Employer Application Summer P.A.Y.S. Employer Application
For more information, visit the Summer Youth Employment Programs Website.
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