For Employers

Do you have hiring needs? Bringing a young person into your workplace is a chance to mentor future talent, share industry knowledge, and foster essential skills like teamwork, time management, and organization. Youth participants bring fresh ideas and energy, enriching your workplace culture. Plus, it’s an opportunity for you to build leadership capacity in current employees, and improve existing systems through documentation and training.

While not every work experience leads to a direct hire, it can be a key part of your strategy to build a diverse talent pipeline.

SummerWorks & PDX Youth@Work connects local employers with motivated young people ages 16 to 24 who are eager to gain real-world skills and explore career paths. The program sparks curiosity in the next generation, develops talent, and helps build a pipeline for the future of your industry.

Youth participants can work up to 160 hours over 12 weeks and are paid $17/hour — fully covered by Worksystems through our Employer of Record. Worksystems also provides:

• Work readiness trainings that give participants a head start
• Screening and matching candidates to the right roles
• Transportation and other work-related assistance
• Support for young workers and supervisors throughout the experience.

As a host site, you provide:

• A welcoming and inclusive environment
• A supportive supervisor who can mentor a young person
• An opportunity for youth to build foundational employability skills

Complete our quick interest form and we’ll be in touch to discuss next steps.

Empower your team to work more effectively with young workers! We offer cost-free, expert-led training sessions designed for direct supervisors. Topics include:

• Best Practices in Youth Management to Increase Retention
• Retention Barriers Facing Low-Income Workers
• Power Dynamics in the Workplace
• Trauma-Informed Care in the Workplace

Sign up here