Mayor Andre Dickens declared 2023 the Year of the Youth, and in line with that mission, the City of Atlanta expanded the efforts of the second annual Summer Youth Employment Program. Created in 2022 under Mayor Dickens, the program leveraged partnerships in the public, private and non-profit sectors to employ Atlanta youth—often receiving their first work experience—who could earn a higher-than-average wage while learning valuable work and life skills.

“To sum it up, the Summer Youth Employment Program is not just about jobs; it is about hope, aspirations and a solid commitment to our city’s youth,” said Mayor Dickens. “As I reflect on the incredible accomplishments of this program, I am filled with gratitude and optimism for the future.”

Among the highlights of the 2023 SYEP Report:

• 5,418 youth registered for the program;

• 157 employers registered for the program;

• The average hourly wage was $17.27.

“Youth ventured beyond the conventional, immersing themselves in high-demand fields like augmented reality, robotics, coding and even our city’s flourishing airport and film industries. Alongside these practical experiences, the holistic development they received through soft skills training, entrepreneurship modules and STEM education has set them on a path of endless possibilities,” City of Atlanta Chief of Staff Odie Donald II.

You can read the full report online here.