CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago has thousands of summer jobs available for young people and not enough applicants.
During a remote joint committee meeting, Chicago aldermen discussed ways to combat violence over the summer, while also discussing the fact that many summer jobs are still vacant.
Last month, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced applications were open for One Summer Chicago, the annual summer jobs program aimed at those age 14 to 24. The program runs July 5 to Aug. 13 and includes both remote and socially distanced, in-person jobs and life skills training for 21,000 young people.
But many jobs are, so far, going unfilled, alderman said.
"One of the concerns I've been hearing is that we may be experiencing quite a bit of vacancies, because not enough applicants are coming to apply for the summer jobs; or may be a bit uncomfortable leaving, because of the unemployments checks, I am going to be honest with you, that people are receiving nowadays," said Alderman Roderick Sawyer.
"You are actually correct, especially when it comes to the lifeguards situation," said Alonzo Williams, chief programs officer for the Chicago Park District.
“One of the things we’ve done as a district is not just let it be posted on our website. We’ve actually spent dollars this year in our marketing budget to advertise in local newspapers to push it out that way. As well as, we work with a lot of community-based organizations to create posters and fliers to send out to them."
But it’s not just lifeguards, there are many other opportunities in multiple programs.
During the meeting, Alderman Nick Sposato questioned Williams about job placement.
"Full disclaimer: kids from my neighborhood aren't going to want to go to Hegewisch or Englewood, and I don't think the kids from Englewood or Hegewisch are going to want to come to Dunning or Portage Park," Ald. Sposato said.
"So obviously when people apply for positions, we do try - especially when we are dealing with a younger population - we try to keep them as close to their homes as possible, but staffing needs to go where the demand is," Williams said.
Sposato said “16- or 17- or 18-year-old kids are not gonna want to have to travel 20 miles [for] a minimum-wage job to work 25 hours a week.”
The deadline to apply for summer jobs is June 11. Information can be found at onesummerchicago.org.
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