Analysing a city's jobs initiative for the young

The city of Chicago is connecting more young people with work than it has in years. The mayor's office recently announced that nearly 29,000 teens and young adults were hired this summer through One Summer Chicago, a city-led jobs initiative for people ages 14 to 24. That's welcome news: Research shows summer jobs can reduce youth violence, boost academic and career outcomes and support mental well-being.

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It turns out that kids still like responsibility and the independence that comes with earning their own cash. The One Summer Chicago youth jobs programme has grown under Mayor Brandon Johnson; there were just 20,544 participants in 2022. Johnson pledged in his campaign to double the programme as a violence prevention strategy, according to the Tribune News Service. Still, the underlying model raises questions.

The city partially or fully subsidises these jobs. Without taxpayer funding, many wouldn't exist. In a stronger local economy, teens would be able to find work without so much government matchmaking.

We should also note that the city's youth jobs initiative still falls short of pre-pandemic levels, when more than 30,000 young people were hired annually, including over 31,000 in 2019. Demand continues to far exceed supply, with roughly 51,000 applicants competing for limited spots in 2023, due in part to funding constraints and a lack of private-sector partners, according to WBEZ.