Workforce Board Council Ramps Up Youth Employment

Do you remember your first job and what you learned from it? Thank goodness for that someone who took a chance and believed in you enough to say, “You’re hired.” Today, with unemployment looming, young people are finding it more difficult than ever to capture that summer job. According to the Department of Labor, last year only 45 percent of youth between the ages of 16-24 were employed by the end of August.

The Northwest Indiana Workforce Board Youth Employment Council is joining a national initiative calling on businesses to hire a youth in need of employment this summer.

“Our region’s young people need jobs this summer and by hiring one of them you will be teaching them the skills that will help them for the future,” said Gerry Scheff, NWIWB Chair. Scheff at one time was employed in factory management in Knox.

By investing $500, an employer can hire a youth for a total of 69 hours, that’s approximately 23 hours per month for three months or 34.5 hours per month for two months.

For further information on NWIWB, its Youth Employment Council and/or the summer initiative, please contact 219-462-2940