Fitzgerald, Gainey Encourage Area Youth to Apply for Learn & Earn Program

PITTSBURGH – County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, and Partner4Work CEO Robert L. Cherry were joined today by Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders, a former student intern, and other speakers to encourage area youth to apply for the Learn & Earn summer youth employment program. The event at Perry Traditional Academy highlighted the value of workforce development and retaining qualified youth to fill Pittsburgh area jobs.

The Learn & Earn Summer Youth Employment Program is accepting applications now through June 9, 2023. Perry Traditional Academy also hosted a pop-up application events today for interested students. Perry, along with other sites including official application support centers, will be offering ongoing support for youth seeking opportunities through the program.

“Learn & Earn engages and provides opportunities for young people throughout the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “We are fortunate that we have so many employers in the Pittsburgh area that are looking to hire summer workers and pay them a good wage, as well as teach them skills to see if that’s a career they would like to do. Learn and Earn is also a great way for the young person and the organization to see if it’s a good match for employment.”

Mayor Ed Gainey said, “Learn & Earn is more than just a paycheck, more than just a summer job, it is an opportunity for our kids to see beyond what they experience every day. It allows them to imagine a better tomorrow. Investing in our youth, growing their skills, teaching them about finances and employment is one of the best public safety tools we have and now it is our job to help bring these opportunities directly to our kids.”   

Now in its ninth year, Learn & Earn will connect 1,300 - 1,500 young people ages 14 through 21 with 6-week summer jobs in local businesses and organizations. Learn & Earn participants will also have opportunities for virtual and in-person work experiences. Eligible youth live in Allegheny County, are 14-21 years old, and meet certain low-income criteria.

Learn & Earn opportunities can range from career exploration activities, service-learning, or work-study to entrepreneurship and corporate internships. “I feel people should apply for the Learn and Earn program because it gives you a chance to try something new, gain new skills, and have fun while doing it,” said Equus student intern Tyenne Williams. In past years, Learn & Earn participants edited videos, performed archival research for a photography exhibit, promoted a community arts festival, learned coding and computer programming for the creation of socially conscious gaming, conducted social science research, and more. 

The application period for the general Learn & Earn program ends June 9. Interested youth can find eligibility requirements and the application online at https://www.partner4work.org/learn-earn-general-program/ , or at one of the 24 in-person application support center locations throughout Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh: https://www.partner4work.org/learnandearn/application-support-centers/.

Wages

Learn & Earn participant wages will be $9 an hour, enabling youth to choose their summer work experience based on the learning environment they need. Based on 2022, participants are expected to earn more than $1.5 million in wages and participate in nearly 20,000 hours in work-readiness training.

More than just a job

The business community’s participation in Learn & Earn is a key factor in the program’s success. In any given year, as many as 400 businesses and nonprofits have opened their doors to youth for the summer. The program continues to make adjustments to employ youth safely, engage them virtually, and also offer small group participation so they can gain meaningful work experience building digital work skills. 

“Partner4Work is pleased to partner again with the county and city to provide young adults with quality work experiences through Learn & Earn, the leading youth summer jobs program in our area,” said Partner4Work CEO Robert Cherry. “The young adult population is the only growing segment of the workforce. Training young people now can help fill the gap when baby boomers retire.” 

Employers and partners interested in offering a short term work experience for young people as a worksite can email summer@partner4work.org.

Corporate internship

Young adults ages 18-24 also may participate in the Corporate Internship Program, the capstone experience for older applicants with more work experience. Interns work for 8 weeks with corporate hosts that offer work experience in high-demand sectors including healthcare, financial services, and STEM.  Corporate interns earn $12 an hour for up to 30 hours per week. The application period closes on April 28.

Employers interested in participating in the Corporate Internship Program, hosting an intern or sponsoring internships with local non-profits, should email internship@partner4work.org.  The Learn & Earn team screens candidates, arranges interviews, provides ongoing training and support, and processes paperwork and payroll.