Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) officially kicked off summer with a series of Youth@Work Summer Hiring events across all five supervisorial districts. These events welcomed over 1,400 young adults, many engaging in their first job search and connecting with more than 60 local employers hiring in high-growth sectors, including healthcare, construction and infrastructure, aerospace, early childhood education, and the creative industries. These events took place with DEO’s America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) in La Puente, Palmdale, Compton, Culver City, and Whittier.

Through Youth@Work, eligible youth ages 14–24 who live in LA County can access paid, part-time job opportunities and earn $17.87 per hour for up to 140 hours starting July 1. Participants also receive 20 hours of job readiness training through the department’s Transition Age Youth – World of Work (TAY-WOW) program and are connected to future job training, education, and career pathways, along with wraparound support tailored to their needs. Eligible youth include but are not limited to those who are foster, justice system-impacted, experiencing homelessness, out of school, receiving CalWORKS, or from a low-income household.

Placements span a wide range of sector employers, from Walgreens and LA County Parks to the City of Compton and the LA LGBT Center. Participants also have the opportunity to take part in specialized public-sector projects like Youth@Work Summer Stars, where youth tutor K–6 students in County libraries, and the Puente Hills Park Project, where students explore careers in landscape architecture, urban planning, and design with renowned Studio MLA while contributing to LA County’s first new regional park in 30 years.

As part of this year’s initiative and following a motion led by LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger, DEO is providing a minimum of 500 job opportunities to youth ages 14–24 who lived in or were displaced from communities impacted by the January 2025 Eaton Fire. Eligible youth include those who resided in evacuation zones or areas under evacuation warnings during the emergency. Interested youth can fill out the Eaton Fire Youth@Work Form for youth to get started. Employers interested in providing temporary paid work experiences and career opportunities to youth impacted by the Eaton Fire are invited to complete the Eaton Fire Youth@Work Form for employers. These are on the County’s Youth@Work page: opportunity.lacounty.gov/youthatwork.

Additionally, in the wake of current immigration enforcement actions as a result of this week’s motion led by LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Pro Temp Hilda Solis, DEO is soon to provide 100 impacted youth with 400 hours of job readiness and paid work through the Youth@Work Elevate program. 

“The Youth@Work Program offers youth thousands of opportunities for their first job, first step on their education and career journey, and agency in their future,” shared Kelly LoBianco, Director of the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity. “We are grateful for amazing schools and community partners who help recruit young adults for this impactful programming and our vast, cross-sector network of work site and hiring employers, who see the value in investing in our emerging workforce. We encourage youth job seekers and hiring talent seekers alike to join in on the Youth@Work Program.”

Interested youth and employers can get started by contacting their local AJCC. Those unsure about eligibility or a specific program or work site of interest can complete a brief interest form to be connected with a DEO or AJCC representative for personalized assistance.

Employers across the County are invited to partner with DEO as host sites and help shape the future workforce. Participating employers receive wage and insurance subsidies and access to new talent and the future of work.

To learn more about Youth@Work and the new specialized programs, find an AJCC or fill out an interest form, and get started, visit: opportunity.lacounty.gov/youthatwork/.