Latest news with #SYEP
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A $20 Mistake: At-Risk Teens Will Pay for Cuomo's Wage Hike
Former governor and current mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo wants to raise New York Citys minimum wage to $20 by 2027. His political theatrics may benefit his poll numbers, but theyll only make it harder for at-risk youth to find work. Given the undeniable link between youth delinquency and unemployment rates, New York should be making it easier - not harder - for young people to land a job. Teenage crime rates are up in NYC. A New York Times report published in November showed that since 2018, New York saw a 25% increase in major crimes where a minor was arrested. Robberies and murders rose by 25% and 24%, respectively. Its not a coincidence that as local school attendance declines, crime rates among young people rise. A third of New York City public school kids were "chronically absent" last year - an astonishing 300,000 students. When students arent in school, theyre out making trouble. In February, a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death at a Queens McDonalds after a fight broke out among a large group of teenagers, presumably right after school. Its due to disturbances like these that local restaurants and stores are banning school-age "patrons." Part-time employment is essential for keeping teenagers busy, reducing their risk of dropping out of school, and helping them to develop the skills their generation lacks. The success of gainful employment in keeping young people out of jail is well documented. New York Citys Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) places New Yorkers aged 14 to 24 from underserved communities in various paid jobs. Participants were 23% less likely to be arrested for a felony and 38% less likely to be convicted of such a crime. A similar study in Chicago found that youths employed through summer employment were 43% less likely to be arrested for violent crimes. One reason for this is that employed students are more engaged in school and enjoy greater upward mobility as a result. One study shows a correlation between part-time employment - specifically 20 hours or less - and a decreased risk of dropping out of high school. Research from the University of Virginia and Middle Tennessee State University showsthat students with part-time engagements earned 20% more, six to nine years after graduating. This revelation can be partly explained by the work ethic and soft skills young workers cultivate while working. City Hall understands this. Thats why, in fiscal year 2024, New York allocated $638 million to workforce programs, specifically its SYEP, which engages a record 100,000 young New Yorkers. Eric Adams even proposed making SYEP a year-round offering during his campaign for mayor. But youth employment programs can only do so much when the city insists on repeatedly raising the minimum wage. The minimum wages effect on youth employment is undeniable. A 10% increase in the minimum wage causes up to about a 11% and 4% decrease in employment among workers aged 15-19 and 20-24, respectively. One study by the University of Washington showed that after Seattle increased the minimum wage from $11 to $13 an hour, young workers saw a reduction in their hours, resulting in an income loss of $125 per month. This year, NYCs minimum wage increased 10% to $16.50 from $15 two years ago. Cuomos $20 minimum wage proposal adds insult to injury. Still, hes not the only one. Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani proposed a $30 minimum wage by 2030. While these candidates engage in political grandstanding, NYCs adolescents are reeling from pandemic-era job losses. Young men - the demographic most at risk for joining the criminal element - were particularly devastated by the pandemic. In 2019, the unemployment rate for young male New Yorkers aged 16 to 24 was 11.8%. The groups unemployment rate remained stubbornly high at 23% two years after COVID-19 first swept the five boroughs. New Yorks at-risk youth see a City of Dreams but are divorced from it. Theyre a train ride away from Brooklyn Heights townhouses and Midtown high-rises, but cannot take the first step toward living there. They hear about Jay-Zs "Empire State of Mind" but are barred from cultivating it in the workforce. Amid their opportunity crisis, they find solace in Nas "N.Y. State of Mind" and eventually revere it - a damning negative feedback loop. Daniel Idfresne is a junior at Syracuse University. He's a Young Voices Social Mobility Fellow and interned for 'The Story with Martha MacCallum.' He has written for the New York Post, Newsweek, and The Free Press. Follow him at @danielidfresne
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New York youth work program includes $1.3 million for North Country
ALBANY, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44) – Teenagers often wonder how to fill out their first job applications when they can't write anything down under 'experience'. This summer, 21,000 young people across New York State will fix that with the help of a government program. Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday the awards by county for this year's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), as passed in the state budget on May 9. Out of the total of $56.5 million, a 3% increase from last year to account for minimum wage increases, over $1.3 million will go to the North Country, including over $250 thousand for Clinton County, $188 thousand for Franklin County, and $93 thousand for Essex County. New York State Police: 12K tickets issued over holiday weekend New York's SYEP program aims to help about 21,000 people under 21 from low-income households enter the job market this summer. Participants in the program work in entry-level jobs in places like parks, summer camps, and cultural centers. One example of a local project under the program is Clinton County's Six Weeks of Employment Experience for Teens, or SWEET, which will employ youth up to 30 hours per week at $16 an hour this July and August. 'Investing in our young people's future and providing them with the resources and tools they need to succeed is a top priority of my administration,' said Governor Hochul. 'The Summer Youth Employment Program helps young New Yorkers across the state find good summer jobs that provide valuable experiences and skills that will help them pursue their educational and career goals and prepare them for success in the workforce as adults.' NYS gives funding for animal shelter improvements A 2014 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research indicated that participation in New York's SYEP greatly lowered young people's likelihood of going to prison within a five to eight year period afterwards, while having no statistically significant effect on whether they would later enroll in college. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Deadline looms for NYC summer job applications
Editors note: The video above aired in a previous newscast. NEW YORK (PIX11)– If you are 14 – 24 years old and looking for a job, you may want to apply for New York City's Summer Youth Employment program. The application deadline is Friday. More Local News 'NYC's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation's largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experiences each summer,' reads the website. SYEP offers project-based learning experiences for youth ages 14 to 15. Work experience is available for New Yorkers aged 16 to 24 and enhances workplace readiness skills, according to the program. To learn more about the program and apply, click here. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rochester, Monroe County seeking employers for summer internship programs
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — New Rochester and Monroe County initiatives aim to keep kids busy while offering real-life workforce experience this summer. To ensure its success, Mayor Malik Evans called on community partners to lend a hand Tuesday afternoon. The city's Summer of Opportunity Program (SOOP) and Monroe County's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) are expected to help young people throughout the city and county gain real-world experience in the workforce, with employers and internship partners throughout the Greater Rochester region at the ready to offer as many opportunities as possible. Tuesday, city and county leaders urged more local businesses and organizations to pitch in. 'I couldn't stop smiling': Brockport ready for varsity flag football 'Our entire community benefits when our youth are active and engaged in positive growth and development opportunities,' Evans said on Tuesday while addressing the community. 'But – we need more. We need more employment partners to ensure a wider variety of opportunities so that we create and provide relevant jobs that match the current interests of our youth.' Internships begin July 7 and run through Aug. 15. Businesses and organizations interested in helping out can learn how to apply here. Eligible youth and their parents can learn more about these initiatives and how to register here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
