by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Two times each year, what’s called “seasonal employment” becomes an issue for people seeking temporary jobs.
Beginning after Thanksgiving, retailers start taking applications from people who would like to work until Christmas to help handle the increased business that has historically been part of the retail year.
It’s no secret that last year, employers hired fewer holiday workers due to the soft economy that led to people spending less money on gifts and entertainment.
The other peak period many people, particularly young people, seek temporary employment is summer. School is out, they have time on their hands and many young people wish to use that opportunity to make extra money.
According to the U. S. Department of Labor, last summer the “youth labor force” (16-24 years old) increased by 3.1 million workers between April and July. The labor force participation rate for youth, the proportion of their population working or looking for work, was 65.1 percent.
Last summer 23 percent of employed youth worked in the leisure and hospitality industry and 18 percent worked in retail jobs. About 40 percent worked in education and health services, professional and business services, government, manufacturing and construction combined.
Those are the latest youth summer job statistics available and they were collected before the crisis in the financial markets and before “bailout” and “stimulus package” became part of the common economic vernacular.
In a effort to soften the effects of a soft job market for Jacksonville’s youth this summer, the City, Worksource, the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority formed a partnership to not only help young people find paying jobs this summer, they can also get to work and back home at little or no cost by using public transportation and bus passes provided by JTA.
Two programs, the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program administered by the City and the “Summer Success Program” administered by Worksource will employ 1,400 young people who will go to work this month and won’t “clock out” in some cases until August just before school resumes.
“We have had an overwhelming response to both initiatives,” said Roslyn Phillips, director of the City’s Recreation and Community Services Department.
Phillips said the program began three years ago as the “Mayor’s Seeds of Change” program. It has grown each year, but this year, “Obviously economic conditions were a concern,” she added.
Funded by $250,000 from the Jacksonville Journey’s budget, the program will employ 200 Duval County students ages 16-21 who will work in all areas of City government. From clerical positions to camp counselors to park maintenance, each participant will be paid a stipend for one week of training and five 20-hour weeks. First-time participants will earn a wage of $7.25 an hour while students who participated in the program last summer and have been accepted again this year will receive $7.50 per hour.
Phillips also said the City makes an effort to match candidates with their future job aspirations whenever possible and the program also includes a mentoring aspect to instill in the young workers a sense of civic responsibility. “It’s also a meaningful work experience for City staff,” she added. “We incorporate training on how to work with young people. Working for the City in this program goes beyond just a summer job.”
With $2.3 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, Worksource will provide 1,500 students with the opportunity to develop workplace skills. At 50 sites, program participants will work on environmental programs and crews that will weatherize homes in low-income neighborhoods. Some will serve as camp counselors and all are involved in what Worksource Director of Communications Candace Moody called “education and employment” initiatives primarily provided by faith-based organizations and other nonprofit organizations. Participants will earn stipends equal to $7.25 an hour, receive transportation assistance and will commit to 20 hours of work per week
“Private sector employment is so abysmal right now. Youngsters are having to compete with adults who need jobs, especially in the hospitality industry,” she said. “We have also hired site supervisors for all the programs. They are teachers from North Florida who are being laid off. We’re putting the money where it’s needed,” said Moody.
The federal funds allowed Worksource to expand the program, which in 2008 served 200 youth from low-income families. Moody said based on last year’s results, she expects a tremendous impact on the community that will go beyond providing minimum-wage summer jobs in an economy where competition for employment is stiff to say the least.
“We have found that young people who have something to do in the summer do better when they get back in school. These participants will be learning in the context of doing and being active,” she added.
The economic downturn’s impact has also touched the legal community, with many firms forced to downsize or at least indefinitely postpone plans for growth. That means fewer summer jobs available and more competition for them among students enrolled in law schools.
Lynn McDaniel, director of clinical programs at Florida Coastal School of Law, said this year it hasn’t been as easy as it has been in past years for students to find paid summer positions at law firms and that condition has led to a change of direction for many. More than 100 students at FCSL are opting for what she called “externships” this year, jobs that come with legal experience and law school credit instead of a paycheck.
“We have had more of our students interested in that type of program this year than ever before,” said McDaniel. “Several students came in at the last minute looking for a credit-bearing summer job because they just couldn’t find a paid position.”
Employed persons 18 to 24 years of age.
356-2466