Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

  • This strategy can provide assistance to unemployed workers and help prevent violence. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
  • Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Program overview

  • Facilitating summer employment for area youth: The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is operated by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DCYD). To be eligible for SYEP, youth must be residents of New York City and be legally allowed to work in the United States. The program aims to improve career readiness and employment outcomes for area youth.

  • Offering employment opportunities for older youth: For youth between the ages of 16 and 24, DCYD offers summer jobs through partnerships with community-based organizations. In these roles, youth work 25 hours per week for six weeks and are paid $15 per hour.

  • Programming tailored toward younger teens: For youth between the ages of 14 and 15, DCYD offers career exploration and project-based activities. These opportunities are for 12.5 hours per week over a six week period. Participants receive a weekly stipend based on their attendance and participation.

  • Specialized programs: Most applicants are selected for SYEP programming through a random lottery. However, DCYD offers an alternative application process for certain youth, such as those facing specific barriers to employment (e.g., those in the foster system) or those living in select public housing developments.

  • Collaborating with community-based organizations: DYCD collaborates with community-based organizations focused on workforce development and youth development to administer the SYEP program. These community-based organizations serve as intermediaries between youth, employers, and DYCD, handling the recruitment and placement of youth in jobs. While these organizations interview young people about their interests and experiences, it is not always feasible to place youth in their preferred type of job.

Cost per Participant
$2,200 per participant

A single study with a rigorous design provides some evidence for NYC SYEP as a strategy for increasing employment opportunities for area youth.

  • A 2016 randomized controlled trial found that SYEP participants were 71 percentage points more likely to be employed during their year of participation in SYEP and 1 percentage point more likely to be employed in the following year, compared with youth in the control group.

Note: This content is under review.

  • Match youth to jobs intentionally: When youth are engaged in their job, their summer placement will be more successful for them and the employer. To ensure good matches, summer youth employment programs should hire coordinators who can assist youth with identifying roles that match their skills and interests. When resource limitations make this impractical, programs can collect data from employers on what skills and interests would be relevant to their roles and provide this information for youth during the application process.

  • Emphasize the value to employer partners: When recruiting organizations to hire youth, summer youth employment programs should tailor their pitch to each organization’s priorities. Key benefits for employer partners may include access to short-term labor and the opportunity to strengthen and diversify the talent pipeline in their industry. Identifying leaders at area employers who can champion the program to their peers may also make securing partnerships easier.

  • Create opportunities for long-term engagement: Summer youth employment programs, like DYCD’s SYEP, are short-term interventions. To produce lasting impacts, programs should connect youth to workforce readiness and employment opportunities available outside of summer. For example, programs may share information about career and technical education or work-based learning opportunities available through the area school district.

  • Collect data on key program outcomes: Summer youth employment programs should collect data on youth and employer experiences. These data can allow programs to adjust the program model to better attract youth and retain employer partners. By collecting data on longer-term youth outcomes (e.g., graduation rates), programs can also demonstrate their impact and build support for further investment in summer employment opportunities.