The Atlanta City Council approved Mayor Andre Dickens’ $2 million allocation for his signature Summer Youth Employment Program. Sponsored by Councilmember Andrea L. Boone, the legislation amends the FY 2024 General Fund to provide funding to the Department of Labor and Employment Services to hire Atlanta youth for a variety of paid positions spanning a diverse range of industries and inclusive roles with the City of Atlanta.

“The Summer Youth Employment Program helps our young people come into their own by creating paid opportunities that provide work experience and life skills that can help prepare them for the future,” said Mayor Dickens. “Sometimes, young people just need to know someone is in their corner and today, thanks to Councilmember Boone and the entire City Council, Atlanta is saying ‘That begins with us.’ The SYEP continues to be a group project, and I again call on our private and non-profit partners to hire as many Atlanta youth as possible to make this the best year yet.”

Created in 2022 under Mayor Dickens, Summer Youth Employment Program leverages partnerships in the public, private and non-profit sectors to employ Atlanta youth—often receiving their first work experience—who can earn higher-than-average wages while learning valuable work and life skills.

Among the highlights of the 2023 SYEP:

• 5,418 youth registered for the program;

• 157 employers registered for the program;

• The average hourly wage was $17.27.

You can view a report on the 2023 SYEP online here.

For more information on how to sign up for the 2024 Summer Youth Employment Program or to learn how to become a hiring partner, visit atlyearoftheyouth.com or visit this link.