YouthWorks Summer Jobs 

YouthWorks is a state-funded youth jobs program, which provides funds that communities use to pay wages to low-income youth for summer jobs—usually in the public or non-profit sector. The primary component of the YouthWorks program is subsidized employment at public or non-profit agencies, departments, and authorities. Participants are employed up to 25 hours per week over a six-week period during the summer component (early as June and ending as late as September). Hourly wages are required to be no less than the Massachusetts minimum wage.

In addition to funding local agencies to pay wages and stipends for job, YouthWorks provides funds to conduct employer outreach and engagement and youth recruitment and supervision on the job. Local workforce areas and their partners also offer youth pre-employment training. Young people take part in job readiness activities either prior to being placed in a job or while they are employed to help them acclimate to their jobs and make employ-ability skill gains.

In general, participation in this program is limited to youth aged 14–21 whose family income for the most recent six-month period does not exceed the annual equivalent to be eligible to receive a free lunch or reduced lunch in the National School Lunch Program. In the Brockton Area, policy allows 16-21 year olds to participate in the paid summer work experience. If you are 14 or 15 years old you will be given an opportunity to participate in the W.A.V.E volunteer program prior to being referred to the paid work program when you turn 16.