No Stimulus Leads to Fewer Summer Jobs in Chicago

The “Youth Ready Chicago” jobs program in the Windy City will have 33 percent fewer jobs to offer its young people this summer, Mayor Daley said Tuesday during a news conference that gave details of the program. Last year, with help from federal stimulus funds, 19,950 jobs were provided. With no stimulus money this year the number is down to 14,300.

During the conference Daley asked the U.S. Senate to increase funding for summer jobs programs. “Without continued federal investment, an entire generation of young people is at risk of being severely or even permanently disconnected from the labor market,” he said.

While the number of jobs being offered is down significantly, there are four new option s being added to “Youth Ready Chicago” this year, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. There will be an apprenticeship program that will allow 300 young people to intern in “green industries”; jobs will be provided for 50 “gang-affiliated or court-involved” young people as well as year-round employment counseling; year-round work for 500 young people from impoverished neighborhoods with high levels of teen violence; and an expansion of the Chicago Housing Authority’s “Learn & Earn” program for CHA residents ages 13 to 15.