Earlier this month, the White House announced
Summer Jobs+, an initiative
challenging businesses, nonprofits and the Federal government to create more
than 250,000 jobs for disconnected and low-income youth. Recognizing that our nation’s youth face
significant rates of unemployment, this initiative is intended to help create
pathways to employment, job training and support as youth gain the skills
necessary to succeed in the labor market.
According to the announcement, the government and the private sector
have already committed to creating180,000 jobs and/or training opportunities
for the summer of 2012.
This announcement came as the White House
Council for Community Solutions released a report highlighting the economic
impact of failing to help disconnected youth.
The report suggests that roughly 17% of individuals between the ages of
16-24 are “disconnected,” which is defined as youth who are neither enrolled in
school nor participating in the labor market.
Without opportunities to gain job skills, disconnected youth are more
likely to have lower earnings, be incarcerated as adults, have poor health
outcomes and rely on government support. The report suggests that, in 2011, taxpayers sustained $93
billion in costs and lost revenue as a result of supporting youth disconnected
from school and jobs. In an effort to
support economic growth and the well-being of youth, the White House is relying
on support from businesses, nonprofits and the government as they have the
power to create meaningful opportunities for youth.
In the next two months, the White House plans
to launch the Summer Jobs+ Bank, an online search tool that will allow youth to
search for job opportunities posted by participating employers.
In an effort to promote youth employment, the
White House Council for Community Solutions also released a Connecting Youth& Business Toolkit for Employers.
Specifically designed for businesses, this toolkit guides businesses
through a process of supporting, training and employing disconnected youth in
their communities.
For more information about Summer Jobs+,
including a list of committed partners, please click here.
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