Youth Employment Month highlights opportunities for young people to gain valuable work experience

LANSING, Mich. — About 250,000 Michigan youth, ages 16-19, are expected to enter the state’s job market this summer and help raise awareness of the importance of young people gaining valuable skills and training for the future by done so safely and legally, Gov. . Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed June 2024 as Youth Employment Month in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has resources for businesses, schools and parents seeking information about the legal and safe employment of minors under the age of 18, including those with disabilities. LEO also partners with local businesses and Michigan Works! agencies to develop and promote productive opportunities for young people, ages 16-24. Summer youth employment opportunities are available in many Michigan industries such as agriculture, energy, health care, information technology, manufacturing, recreation and tourism, and retail.

“Summer work experiences not only help more young people gain the skills they need to be successful in their futures, but they also help Michigan businesses meet their needs for seasonal talent,” said. Susan Corbin, director of LEO. “LEO is committed to helping businesses across Michigan succeed by ensuring Michigan’s youth have the skills employers need.”

LEO also offers programs geared toward providing equal opportunity for career exploration, training, and employment through vocational rehabilitation services provided by the Bureau of Blind Services (BSBP) and Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS)—which include BSBP Pre-Employment Transition Services, BSBP Youth Low Vision Services, MRS Pre-Employment Transition Services and MRS Youth Services. Technical support and training are also available to businesses that host youth with disabilities during summer programming and provide employment opportunities that maximize diversity, equity, inclusion and access.

“Summer employment experiences can be transformative for a young person as they embark on their career journey,” he said. Stephanie Beckhorn, director of the LEO Office of Employment and Training. “Career exploration, job placement and skills training opportunities give our youth the opportunity to gain valuable experience and build a network of professional referrals, often earning wages.”

Additionally, programs through Michigan Works! network, like the Young Professionals initiative, and the Michigan Jobs for Graduates program prepare young people for both education and career success.

“Work experience is a vital building block for teenagers and young adults. It fosters a sense of responsibility, develops skills and lays the foundations for important career paths,” said Jacob Maas, West Michigan Works! CEO “That’s why our West Michigan Works! youth programming meets youth wherever they are in life by supporting emotional well-being and soft skills as much as education and training, to provide the stable foundation needed to build a successful career.”

To further their career planning, youth are encouraged to use Pathfinder, Michigan’s free online tool to explore careers and identify educational opportunities across the state. Using current labor market, wage and institutional data and metrics, Pathfinder creates individualized career roadmaps for each young person, empowering them to make informed decisions about educational and career options.

In accordance with the Youth Employment Standards Act, all minors must obtain and provide their employer with a completed work permit before starting work to ensure that their working conditions are safe and legal.

Supporting youth employment initiatives is part of LEO’s new All-Access Michigan approach. Using unique strategies and programs and innovative partnerships, LEO is addressing the structural challenges that have historically prevented people and businesses from reaching their full potential.

To learn more about youth employment, visit Michigan.gov/YouthEmployment.

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