F1rstjobs Report 2018 the Summer of 2018 Represents the Fourteenth

F1rstJobs Report 2018

The summer of 2018 represents the fourteenth year of F1rstJobs, a community-wide effort to provide meaningful summer work experience for North Shore youth—experiences that pave the way to meaningful career exploration and development. This report examines multiple aspects of the program including: funding sources and placement demographics, applicants and placements for the past several years, business participation, and also detailed survey results from businesses who have hired youth and participated in the F1rstJobs Program. Given the limited resources available for summer youth employment we must continue to seek out the most effective way to engage youth in the labor market.

2018 F1rstJobs Placements by Funding Source The F1rstJobs 2018 program had four different types of funding sources to pay for/supplement youth hires. Some of these funding sources have enrollment and eligibility requirements that must be met in order for the funds to be released to pay for youth employment. The following provides a description regarding the funding sources involved in the F1rstJobs Program:

Business/Foundation/Individual contributions (BFI): Funds raised through foundations and private donors. These funds are used for youth who do not meet the eligibility requirements of the government grants and who have not yet had first work experience. These funds are administered by Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF).

Direct hires by private companies: Youth are directly hired by a company or are placed into jobs that are not subsidized. There are no eligibility requirements. Most of these youth participate in the job readiness workshops and/or receive assistance in finding open positions.

Youth Works Summer: A state grant through Commonwealth Corporation that served youth in the “Gateway Cities” on the North Shore- Lynn, Peabody, and Salem (14-21 years1) who meet the free/reduced lunch income guidelines or whose family income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Ten percent of youth are allowed to be enrolled from “out of area”. Grant also targets youth with other “at-risk” /high needs for intervention. This grant ran from June 2018-August 2018.

1 One youth turned 22 over the summer 1

Funding Source Total Youth Employed 2018 Youth Works BFI Funds Private Hires Number Percent Summer Number Placed 19 272 244 535 100% City Beverly 11 3 0 14 2.6% Danvers 2 3 5 10 1.9% Gloucester 2 6 0 8 1.5% Ipswich 0 0 3 3 0.6% Lynn 1 186 171 358 66.9% Manchester 2 0 0 2 0.4% Marblehead 0 5 1 6 1.1% Middleton 0 2 0 2 0.4% Nahant 0 0 0 0 0.0% Peabody 1 16 27 44 8.2% Rockport 0 2 0 2 0.4% Salem 0 43 36 79 14.8% Saugus 0 2 0 2 0.4% Swampscott 0 1 1 2 0.4% Out of Area 0 3 0 3 0.6% Age 14 0 8 7 15 2.8% 15 1 13 14 28 5.2% 16 7 35 51 93 17.4% 17 2 60 56 118 22.1% 18 3 61 60 124 23.2% 19 4 50 32 86 16.1% 20 1 20 15 36 6.7% 21 1 7 8 16 3.0% 22 0 8 1 9 1.7% 23 0 2 0 2 0.4% 24 0 5 0 5 0.9% 25 0 3 0 3 0.6% Gender Female 14 138 113 265 49.5% Male 5 134 131 270 50.5%

2 Funding Source Total Youth Employed 2018 BFI Funds Private Hires Youth Works Summer Number Percent Number Placed 19 272 244 535 100.0% Ethnicity African-American 0 28 66 94 17.6% Asian 0 11 15 26 4.9% Hispanic/Latino 1 130 97 228 42.6% Native American 0 0 0 0 0.0% White 17 92 58 167 31.2% Other 1 11 8 20 3.7%

• 535 youth found employment through F1rstJobs 2018. • There were three funding sources for F1rstJobs. From largest to smallest in terms of youth placements they are Private Hires (50.8%), Youth Works Summer (45.6%), and BFI (3.6%). • Of the 535 youth who found employment 66.9% were from Lynn, 14.8% were from Salem, and 8.2% were from Peabody. o 84.2% of Private Hire placements were from Salem & Lynn o 70.1% of Youth Works Summer placements were from Lynn, 14.8% were from Salem, and 11.1% were from Peabody. • Hispanic/Latino was the largest ethnic group to find employment through F1rstJobs at 42.6%, followed by Whites (31.2%), and African-Americans (17.6%).

F1rstJobs 2016-2018 Comparison

2018 2017 2016 F1rstJobs Summary Apply Place Apply Place Apply Place Total 1760 535 1211 418 1529 597 Age 14 3.6% 3% 2.9% 2.9% 4.8% 3.4% 15 8.7% 5% 8.0% 9.3% 9.0% 7.0% 16 19.8% 17% 13.0% 14.1% 16.0% 15.9% 17 21.6% 22% 26.7% 25.8% 21.8% 20.8% 18 19.2% 23% 22.6% 18.9% 21.6% 24.6% 19 12.5% 16% 12.6% 13.4% 13.9% 12.9% 20 6.4% 7% 6.3% 6.2% 7.4% 8.9% 21 3.4% 3% 4.1% 6.2% 3.1% 3.5% 22 2.2% 2% 1.6% 1.9% 1.6% 2.3% 23 0.8% 0% 0.9% 0.7% 0.5% 0.3% 24 0.7% 1% 1.0% 0.5% 0.3% 0.3% 25 0.3% 1% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Gender

Male 52.6% 50.5% 52.6% 52.9% 53.6% 53.9% Female 47.4% 49.5% 47.4% 47.1% 46.4% 46.1%

3 2018 2017 2016 F1rstJobs Summary Apply Place Apply Place Apply Place Ethnicity White 40.7% 31.2% 27.2% 28.9% 30.0% 28.1% African American 12.4% 17.6% 17.1% 23.4% 17.8% 21.1% Hispanic 36.9% 42.6% 43.6% 36.1% 41.6% 40.2% Asian 4.0% 4.9% 4.1% 5.7% 5.4% 3.2% Multiethnic 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Unknown 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Other 5.9% 3.7% 7.8% 5.5% 5.2% 7.4% Native American 0.1% 0.0% 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.0%

• The summer of 2018 had the highest number of youth apply for jobs in the past five years. o Over 100 more youth were employed in 2018 compared to 2017. • The placement rate for 2018 was 30.4%, which is 4.1% lower than the 2017 placement rate. (34.5%) o Youth placement has been on the decline since 2014 when youth placements reached 43.2%. o During this same time period Massachusetts implemented incremental increases to the minimum wage up from $8.00/hr in 2014 up to $11.00/hr in 2017 & 2018. As of January 1, 2019, the minimum wage has increased to $12 per hour. • The average age of an F1rstJobs youth has remained steady at 17.6 for the past three years. • The ratio of male to female applicants was 1.10. This is slightly higher than the ratio of male to female job placements (1.02).

F1rstJobs Residence Comparison 2016-2018 2018 2017 2016 F1rstJobs Summary Apply Place Apply Place Apply Place Total 1760 535 1211 418 1529 597 Residence Beverly 6% 2.6% 4.0% 4.1% 4.1% 2.3% Danvers 2% 1.9% 1.0% 1.2% 1.0% 1.3% Gloucester 3% 1.5% 3.1% 2.6% 2.8% 3.5% Hamilton 0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% Ipswich 1% 0.6% 0.7% 1.7% 0.9% 1.3% Lynn* 51% 66.9% 65.9% 63.2% 67.0% 71.7% Lynnfield 0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% Manchester 0% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% Marblehead 2% 1.1% 0.7% 0.7% 1.2% 0.2% Nahant 0% 0.0% 0.2% 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% Peabody* 12% 8.2% 5.9% 6.9% 6.7% 6.5% Salem* 15% 14.8% 14.0% 16.5% 13.9% 11.7% Saugus 1% 0.4% 1.9% 2.1% 0.5% 0.3% Out of Area 4% 0.6% 0.6% 0.2% 0.9% 0.3% *Gateway cities

4 F1rst Job Teens 2018 2017 2016 Lynn 66.90% 65.9% 71.7% Salem 14.80% 14.0% 11.7% Peabody 8.20% 5.9% 6.5% All Other Cities 10.10% 14.1% 11.1%

• The percentage of youth job placements in Peabody has increased after declining for the past three years.

Employer Participation in F1rstJobs Employer engagement is essential to any successful youth summer employment program. The F1rstjobs program in 2018 had 203 employers hire youth during the summer. The number of employers participating in F1rstJobs increased by 86.2% compared to 2017 and increased 12.8% compared to 2016. The following table shows every employer who has hired an F1rstJobs youth since 2015 and the years for which they participated.

F1rstJobs Employers from 2018-2016 by Year of Participation Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 A-1 Lighting Revere x Lynn Community Credit Union Lynn x Abercrombie Peabody x Lynn Community Health Center Lynn x Academy of Traditional Karate Wilmington x Lynn Economic Opportunity Lynn x x x Acapulcos Beverly x Lynn Housing Authority Lynn x x x Action Inc. Gloucester x Lynn Meatland Lynn x Advance Auto Parts Lynn x Lynn Museum Lynn x Aeropostale Garden City x Lynn YMCA Lynn x x x Aggregate Industries Saugus x Macys Peabody x x Aldo Shoes Saugus x x Madrag Saugus x All Care Visiting Nurse Association Lynn x Malden Animal Hospital Malden x Allied Universal Boston x Mandees Pizza Lynn x Alpine Bagels & Brew Cambridge x Marini Farm Stand Ipswich x AMC Danvers x Marion Street Auto Body Lynn x American Barbeque Rowley x Market Basket Salem x x x American Eagle Outfitters Peabody x Market Basket Revere x x x American Food & Vending Woburn x Market Basket Gloucester x x x Anchor Pub and Grille Beverly x Market Basket Danvers x Animal Krackers Gloucester x Market Basket Lynn x AnneMaries Surfside Beaches Arlington x Market Basket Middleton x Appleton Roland Lynn x Marshalls Gloucester x x Auto Works Collision Center Lynn x Marshalls Swampscott x Autozone Lynn x x Marshalls Danvers x Aviv Center for Living Peabody x Mayflower Cleaners Marblehead x b.good restaurant Beverly x McCurdy Electrical Services Lynn x Bacci Chocalate Design Swampscott x McDonalds Lynn x x x Barnes & Noble Saugus x McDonalds Peabody x x

5 F1rstJobs Employers from 2018-2016 by Year of Participation Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Barry & Oconnor Ins. Lynn x McDonalds Middleton x Bass Associates Lynn x McDonalds Danvers x x Beckys Gourmet Marblehead x Mendez Landscaping Lynn x Bed Bath & Beyond Danvers x MetroPCS Salem x x Bella Luna Restraunt Lynn x Microline Surgical Beverly x Benjys Market Lynn x Mobile Marine Marblehead x Bertram House of Swampscott Swampscott x x Modells Saugus x Bertuccis Swampscott x Monkey Joes Danvers x Bertuccis Beverly x Monster Mini Golf Danvers x Best Buy Saugus x Mr Crepe Salem x Beverly Athletic Club Beverly x NAMCO Pool & Patio Peabody x Beverly Bootstraps Beverly x x National Floors Beverly x Beverly Children’s Learning Center Beverly x x x National Grand Bank Marblehead x Beverly Historical Society Beverly x x x New Liberty Charter School Salem x Beverly Hospital Beverly x Nicks Roast Beef and Subs Lynn x Beverly Recreation Department Beverly x North Boston Dog Training Peabody x Beverly School for the Deaf Beverly x x North Shore Animal Hospital Lynn x BJ Wholesale Club Revere x North Shore Bank Peabody x BJ Wholesale Club Danvers x North Shore CDC Salem x x x Blue Lobster Grill Rockland x North Shore Community College Lynn x Bonkers Peabody x North Shore Medical Center Salem x x x Boston Auto Brokers Everett x North Shore Youth Career Center Lynn x Boston Market Saugus x Northeast Arc Danvers x x Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem Salem x x x Old Navy Saugus x Boys & Girls Club of Lynn Lynn x x x Old Neighborhood Foods Lynn x x Brew on the Grid Lynn x Old Tyme Italian Cuisine Lynn x x Bridgewell Lynnfield x x x Olympia Sports Swampscott x Brodies Pub Peabody x Olympia Sports Center Peabody x Brooksby Village Peabody x Onion Town Grill Danvers x Brothers Deli Lynn x Open Door/Food Pantry Gloucester x x x Buffalo Wild Wings Danvers x Orange Leaf Marblehead x Building Bridges Through Music Lynn x Outback Steak House Peabody x Burger King Lynn x x x PacSun Peabody x Burger King Salem x Panera Bread Saugus x x CAEP Lynn x Panera Bread Danvers x Camp Fire USA North Shore Salem x Papa Ginos Saugus x Council Inc. Camp Rotary Boxford x Party City Peabody x Cape Ann Art Haven Gloucester x Pathways for Children Gloucester x Cape Ann YMCA Gloucester x Payless Shoe Source Saugus x x

6 F1rstJobs Employers from 2018-2016 by Year of Participation Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Capone Iron Corporation Rowley x Peabody Council On Aging Peabody x Care One Management Peabody x Peabody Institute Library Peabody x x x Carmalenos Pushcart Restaurant Saugus x Peabody Public Schools Peabody x x x Carusos Pizza Lynn x Peabody-Lynnfield YMCA Peabody x x Castle Creek Adventure Land Salem x Pennyworths Inc Lynn x Castle Manor Inn Gloucester x Pet Express/Pet Express Grooming Lynn x Catholic Charities Lynn x Picture Perfect Painting Lynnfield x Chartwells Salem x Pingree School Hamilton x Cheesecake Factory Peabody x Pomodori Roast Beef & Pizza Ipswich x Chick Fil a Peabody x Poochies Dog Grooming Saugus x Christian Book Distributors Peabody x Popeyes Lynn x Chuck E Cheese Danvers x Porthole Restaurant Lynn x City of Beverly Beverly x x x Pretzelmaker Saugus x City of Lynn Lynn x x x Qdoba Mexican Grill Peabody x City of Salem Salem x x x Qdoba Mexican Grill Woburn x CK Pearl Essex x Radiance Aveda Marblehead x Clarks Peabody x Railroad Liquors Swampscott x Comfort Inn & Suites Revere x Rainbow Lynn x Compass Realtor Gloucester x Ramos Maintenance Services Pawtucket x Complete Cleaning Co Inc Lynn x Raw Art Works Lynn x Corinthian Yacht Club Marblehead x Red Line Café Salem x Cranney Companies Danvers x Reds Kitchen and Tavern Peabody x Crosby's Market Marblehead x Redstone American Grill Burlington x CVS Lynn x Rite Aid Pharmacy Lynn x CVS Gloucester x Root Salem x CVS Pharmacy Salem x Roy Moore's Fish Shack Rockport x Dairy Palace Salem x Russian Community Assoc Lynn x x x Damici Bakery Lynn x x Salem Country Club Peabody x Dangelo Saugus x Salem High School Salem x DanversCares Danvers x x x Salem Maritime Salem x David Dunn Firewood Essex x Salem Public Library Salem x Department of Conservation and Boston x Salem Sound Coastwatch Salem x Recreation Depew Construction Marblehead x Salem Waterfront Hotel Salem x Dicks Sports Danvers x Salem Wax Museum Salem x Dollar Tree Lynn x x Salem Witch Museum Salem x Driscoll Landscaping Lynn x Salem YMCA Salem x x x Dunkin Donuts Lynn x x x Saucony Factory Outlet Danvers x Dunkin Donuts Salem x x Schulte Staffing Solutions Salem x Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Dunkin Donuts Peabody x x Gloucester x Cent 7 F1rstJobs Employers from 2018-2016 by Year of Participation Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Dunkin Donuts Beverly x x Seacrest Foods Lynn x Dunkin Donuts Newton x Sears Saugus x Dunkin Donuts Danvers x Sears Peabody x Dunkin Donuts Ipswich x Seaside Pizzeria Rockport x Dunkin Donuts Saugus x Second Glance Thrift Store Gloucester x Dunkin Donuts Swampscott x Senior Action Center Lynn x DW Kims Tae Kwon Do Lynn x Shaws Lynn x x Eastern Bank Lynn x x x Shaws Gloucester x Edible Arrangements Lynn x Shaws Ipswich x Elias Food Market Revere x Shaws Peabody x Empire Loan Lynn x Shaws Salem x Endicott Park Danvers x Shore Educational Collaborative Peabody x ERC Wiping Products Lynn x ShowCase Cinemas Revere x Essex National Heritage North Salem x Smolak Farms x Commission Andover Essex Technical High School Danvers x x x Sol Bean Café Middleton x European Pizzeria Lynn x St Stephens Episcopal Church Lynn x x x Events for Rent Peabody x Staples Danvers x x Family & Childrens Services Lynn x x x Staples Salem x Finish Line Saugus x Starbucks Saugus x FireFlies Restaurant Westford x State Garden Chelsea x Five Guys Burgers and Fries Swampscott x Stop & Shop Beverly x Flatbread Pizza Salem x Stop & Shop Lynn x x Fleet Machine Gloucester x Stop & Shop Gloucester x For Kids Only Salem x Stop & Shop Peabody x Forever 21 Peabody x Straight Ahead Ministries Lynn x Forever 21 Saugus x Strong Leather Gloucester x Fountain Place Salem x Sugar Magnolias Gloucester x Friendlys Gloucester x x Supreme Food Lynn x Fugakyu Lynnfield x T Mobile Revere x Gaeta Gas and Towing Peabody x Taco Bell Cambridge x GAP Saugus x Taco Bell Revere x GAP Peabody x Taco Bell Saugus x Gibney Gardens Danvers x Taco Bell Danvers x Gillians Foods Salem x Tacos Lupita Lynn x Girls Inc. Lynn x x Target Salem x x GLSS Greater Lynn SR Lynn x Target Danvers x Golden Living Center Gloucester x Target Saugus x x GraVoc Peabody x Temazcal Tequila Cantina Lynnfield x Gregg House Lynn x x x Tennessee Real BBQ Peabody x

8 F1rstJobs Employers from 2018-2016 by Year of Participation Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Grosvenor Park Nursing Center Salem x Texas Roadhouse Danvers x x Hamara Enterprises Woburn x TGI Fridays Danvers x Hampton Inn Revere x TGI Fridays Everett x Hannaford Supermarket Peabody x The Art Haven Gloucester x Harrisons Comics Salem x The Childrens Place Peabody x Haven from Hunger Peabody x x x The Food Project Lynn x x x Healthy Harbors Salem x The Happy Sunflower Salem x Highlands Coalition Lynn x The Haven Project Lynn x x x Hirsch Landscaping Lynn x The House of Seven Gables Salem x x Hollister Peabody x The Peg Lane Inn Rockport x Hollister Saugus x The Real Program Lynn x x x Home Depot Salem x The Ultimate Womens Apparel Peabody x Home Depot Danvers x Tides Restaurant & Pub Nahant x Home Goods Swampscott x TJ MAXX Saugus x x Honda North Danvers x TLC Gloucester x Manchester- Honey Dew Donuts Danvers x TLC Home x by-the-Sea Hong Kong Collections Lynn x Toys R Us Peabody x Hudson News Boston x Trios Mexican Grill Lynn x Inbound Ink Lynn x U.S. Security Associates Charlestown x Integral Resources Cambridge x Union Hospital Lynn x Ipswich High School Ipswich x x x Union Oyster House Boston x Ipswich YMCA Ipswich x UPS Lynnfield x J.P. McCurdy Electrical Services, Swampscott x Victoria Secret Saugus x Inc Jacob Wirth Restaurant Boston x Wahlburgers Lynnfield x JCPenney Peabody x x Walgreens Saugus x x John's Roast Beef Lynn x Walgreens Lynn x Journeys Peabody x x Walgreens Salem x JTs Carpet Cleaning Danvers x WalMart Salem x Justice Danvers x WalMart Lynn x K9Edge Danvers x Walmart Danvers x Kelly Honda Lynn x Walmart Saugus x Kellys Roast Beef Saugus x x Wayback Burgers Saugus x Kellys Roast Beef Danvers x Wayne Alarm Systems Lynn x x Kentucky Fried Chicken Lynn x x x Wellspring House Inc. Gloucester x x x Kohls Medford x Wendy’s Lynn x x Kohls Danvers x x Wendys Revere x Kohls Saugus x Wendys Danvers x Latitude 43 Gloucester x WetSeal Saugus x LEAP for Education Salem x x x What's Brewin Café Beverly x

9 F1rstJobs Employers from 2018-2016 by Year of Participation Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Company City ‘18 ‘17 ‘16 Lifebridge Salem x Wicked Healthy Vending Peabody x Lima Auto Transportation Lynn x Witch Pix Costume Studio Salem x Little Caesars Lynn x Wood & Associates Lynn x Lotus Gifts Salem x Yankee Candle Peabody x Lowes Home Improvement Saugus x Yankee Candle Saugus x Luna Sweets Lynn x Yard House Lynnfield x Lynch Van Otterloo YMCA Marblehead x Yogibo Bean Bags Peabody x

• 203 employers hired a youth in 2018, compared to 109 employers in 2017 and 180 in 2016. o Total of 535 youth was placed with private employers. • 2018 had 134 new employers join the program, 53 employers return from 2017, and 38 that have participated for the past three years. • 16 employers who hired a youth in 2018 had hired youth in 2016 but not 2017. • 56 employers who had hired a youth in 2017 did not hire youth in 2018. o 6 of these employers had hired youth in 2016.

F1rstJobs Business Evaluation Survey Results 2018

The following provides a summary of the 2018 F1rstJobs Business Evaluation Survey. Evaluation survey requests were sent via email invitation to a sampling of 59 F1rstjobs employers. There were a total of 28 surveys completed for a response rate of 47.5%. Please note that not every employer answered every question, which is why the summary responses do not always equal 28.

Question 1: Please provide us with the name of your worksite. (Worksite names removed for privacy) Scale = 5 Excellent; 4 Very Good; 3 Good; 2 Fair; 1 Poor

Question 2: How did the employee/employees meet your expectations? 20 15 n=28 15 11 10

5 2 0 0 0 Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent • 92.8% of responses rated the employees (youth) as being Excellent or Very Good. • 7.1% of the responses rated the employees (youth) as being Good or Fair. • None of the responses rated the employees (youth) as being Poor.

Sample Comments: • The students were very adaptable and willing to learn. They did all they were asked to do and came away from the experience with a sense of accomplishment. The majority completed the workshops and participated on a regular basis. • Though the work ethic varied between employees, overall the staff were highly engaged and positive. • Youth that we worked with were fantastic and were able to dig deep in personal growth, take on advanced responsibility, and engage in meaningful work to build a better food system in their 10 communities.

Question 3: How would you rate the hiring/referral process? 15 13 n=28 10 8 5 5 2 0 0 Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent • 75.0% of responses rated the hiring/referral process as being Excellent or Very Good. • 25.0% of the responses rated the hiring/referral process as being good or fair. • None of the responses rated the hiring/referral process as being Poor.

Sample Comments: • The hiring process should be started earlier. We were scrambling to get all of the youth paperwork to determine eligibility, and as a result, the hiring for some of the youth was delayed. • We appreciate F1rst jobs being able to work together with our hiring process to make sure things go smoothly for both of us. • It would be a lot easier if the process started sooner due to the start date of interns.

Question 4: How was your experience at working the Youth Career Center? Are you planning to work with F1rst Jobs again next summer? • We had a great experience working with the YCC. Every year gets more streamlined and accessible for our students/youth staff. We hope to work with First Jobs again next summer! • It is always a pleasure once it is off the ground and going! We will apply again next summer. • Yes, we would definitely want to work with F1rst Jobs again as it is an excellent opportunity for students to get experience and build their resumes.

Question 5: Do you have any suggestions/remarks on the F1rsrtJobs summer program? • It's a great program. The kids need to learn the basic responsibilities of being employed before they start their summer jobs. This seems to be more critical as the years go on. • If the process can be moved up a few weeks, that would be hugely helpful as we recruit, hire, and plan work for the student. • Thank you for this opportunity, no suggestions, we are big supporters!

Question 6: How would you describe your company’s overall experience with F1rstJobs? 20 17 n=28 15 9 10

5 2 0 0 0 Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent • 92.9% of responses rated the overall experience as being Excellent or Very Good. • 7.1% responses rated the overall experience as being good or fair. • None of the answers rated the overall experience as being Poor. 11

Youth Work Readiness Workshops All youth who obtained subsidized employment were required to complete 15 hours of job readiness curriculum, “Signal Success,” created by Commonwealth Corporation. In order to streamline our process and maintain consistent delivery of information, we opted to provide this curriculum to as many youth as possible at the beginning of the summer. The workshops are required of all youth who wish to apply to grant-funded positions. The purpose of the career readiness workshops is to prepare young people for the hiring/job interview process and to introduce the skills needed to succeed once they gain employment. The workshops take place in schools, at the career center, and in other locations as requested throughout the school year.

Conducted by trained staff members from the North Shore Youth Career Center, this pre-employment training covers a combination of skills such as work readiness, life skills, interviewing preparation, career exploration that helps youth learn transferable skills that will help them in future employment situations. Youth learn to conduct themselves in a professional manner and interact with their peers and supervisors in a positive, proactive manner. Practical matters are also covered - for example, youth learn about filling out timesheets and how to read their paychecks. They also learn how to handle basic responsibilities like the importance of being on time or who to contact if they must be absent from work.

In conjunction with these readiness workshops, youth participate in an evaluation that is designed to assess progress on the job. This is done through the MA Work-Based Learning Plan, which develops accountability and helps define the expectations of a youth’s role at a job site. An assessment is taken at the beginning of employment and then repeated at the end of employment to assess job performance and the advancement of a youth employee’s career skills.

Summary: • Employers had their expectations met with the quality of F1rstjobs youth and were overall satisfied with their experience with the program. Questions 2 & 6 of the Business Evaluation Survey verify that employers found that F1rstjobs youth meet their expectations and that the F1rstJobs program meets their company’s expectations. • Employers believed that F1rstJobs youth were beneficial to their organization and would be willing to work with the program again. However, they would like to extend to referral/hiring period. Other employers wanted a calendar of events to help youth plan their training. • The youth readiness workshops provided an opportunity for youth to prepare themselves to enter the labor force. The work readiness workshops also give youth the ability to alleviate any concerns an employer may have about hiring a youth.

Recommendations:

• Re-engage the 56 employers who hired youth in 2017 but did not participate in the program for 2018 by directly contacting the employers or through a combination of mailings/emails. • Continue with early start, with RFP in February, awards as soon as possible per state allocations • Create additional marketing efforts to increase business participation. o Increase direct contact with companies either directly or through existing business organizations, to build energy and enthusiasm for the program – and to increase the number of teens working in private companies. • Research impact of minimum wage increase in youth job employment opportunities. • Research transitioning from paper application to online applications.

12 • Increase number of career readiness workshops offered directly at worksites.

The F1rstjobs Program would like to thank our private funders for their contributions. These awards, listed under "Business/Foundation/Individual Contributions", help us continue to place additional youth each year. Funds from these foundations and private donors go directly to the wages of teens that are not eligible for YouthWorks funds, allowing youth to gain valuable work experience at nonprofits across the North Shore.

Awards from private foundations are managed by our partners at Essex County Community Foundation.

The Belinda Fund Eastern Bank HardScrabble Fund Salem Five