For Immediate Release | May 3, 2024
(DENVER) – As the end of the school year approaches, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) is kicking off the state’s oldest youth employment program. The Governor’s Summer Job Hunt (GSJH) is beginning its 44th year of helping young people prepare for the uncharted territory of a summer job. Each year since its inception in 1981, the program has connected tens of thousands of high school and college-aged students with Colorado employers willing to give them a chance to learn, put skills to use and see firsthand how a business operates.
“We’re looking forward to another successful season for the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt. This long-standing initiative is a critical early step in building an engaged and resilient workforce for Colorado,” said Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Executive Director Joe Barela. “Together with more than 50 state and county-run Workforce Centers and the State Youth Development Council, we’re ready to work with another generation of young job seekers this summer.”
So far this year, Colorado Workforce Centers have hosted more than 130 job readiness workshops, career awareness events and job fairs that were attended by more than 12,000 youth and more than 700 local employers.
A Foundation in Workforce Preparation
Governor’s Summer Job Hunt program director Steve Wright stresses that the initiative is much more than a brokerage house for summer jobs. It teaches young people the necessary skills to learn how to be successful in the workforce, how to establish a solid work ethic and how to build the groundwork to their future careers.
“Our teams have provided more than 60 workshops covering such topics as résumé writing, interviewing skills and job search strategies to help young people gain a competitive edge in their job hunt and prepare them for the summer season,” Wright said. “And with schools letting out, Workforce Centers across the state have already staged more than 70 career exploration events, industry tours and field trips.”
With a workforce system focused on work based learning opportunities, young people with specific career aspirations can also explore internships and apprenticeships and gain a footing in a variety of industries such as early childhood education, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and government.
How To Take Action
Summer job seekers can find more details about applying for jobs, and employers can get started in listing their open positions by visiting the the GSJH website and Facebook Page. Young job seekers and employers can register at the Connecting Colorado website to search for jobs and post jobs, respectively. Job seekers can also explore their local Workforce Center’s website for information about a variety of workshops and special events in their area.