Boston Youth Jobs Program Filled 9,357 Positions in 2023, Plans 2024 Expansion

BOSTON — March 12, 2024 — Boston youth jobs program topped 9,300 placements last summer, with plans to expand in 2024. The City Council Committee on Strong Women, Families, and Communities heard Tuesday from Rashard Cope, deputy chief of the Worker Empowerment Cabinet, and Alison Verneray, director of the Youth Employment Opportunity Office, who reported that 9,357 young people were employed in summer 2023 — up from 6,455 in 2022 — backed by an $18.7 million city investment. Research with Northeastern University found a 30 percent drop in violent and property crimes among participants and an 8 percent boost in on-time high school graduation. Committee Chair Erin J. Murphy and co-chair Liz Breadon pressed officials on application barriers and equity gaps, noting that only about 50 percent of participants are Boston Public Schools students despite BPS youth being the primary target population. A youth jobs fair is set for March 23 at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center, with nearly 2,000 young people already registered and city agency job applications opening within days of the hearing.