By Judy Lubarski, Youth Program Coordinator
Applications for the 2025 Learn & Earn Summer Youth Employment Program are now open through June 6.
Learn & Earn is a summer program that provides youth with employment around the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County alongside professional development coaching. This year, the program will have a new model with youth participating based on their ages:
Ages 14-15 is Tier 1 or the “Discovery” tier and will focus on career exploration, job shadowing, and work readiness training.
Ages 16-18 is Tier 2 or “Experience” tier and will provide real-world experience and college preparation activities to help youth develop valuable skills.
Ages 18-24 is Tier 3 or “Advancement” tier and connects young adults to apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and industry-led training programs.
The program begins June 23 and runs until Aug. 8 for Tier 2. There are 1,000 spots available for youth participants across Allegheny County with the application period of March 14 to June 6.
Learn & Earn placements are made on a first-come, first-served basis and are not guaranteed. To maximize your changes, ensure all required eligibility documents are submitted promptly.
Since its inception in 2014, the Learn & Earn program has served over 13,500 young people, investing more than $14.3 million in wages. This initiative has provided invaluable work experience, helping participants build careers in fields such as healthcare, business, public service, and trades.
The Learn & Earn Program has provided many participants with their first work experience, guiding countless young adults toward higher education and careers in fields such as healthcare, business, public service, trades and more.
“The Learn & Earn Program is a game-changer for teens, offering an invaluable opportunity to gain their first work experience and develop essential career skills. It’s not just about earning a paycheck””it’s about building confidence, exploring career paths, and laying the foundation for success in a wide range of industries. With 1,000 spots available this summer across Allegheny County, this program offers teens the chance to gain career exposure and place them on a pathway to prosperity,” said Mayor Ed Gainey.
“If we want to strengthen our economy, we need to invest in the talent already here,” said County Executive Sara Innamorato. “By connecting young people with diverse mentors early on, we help them build professional roots and see how internships can lead to lasting, sustaining careers right here in our region. That’s why Allegheny County has continued to invest in youth workforce development in the 2025 budget””because when we open doors for young people, we’re not just shaping individual futures, we’re strengthening communities and the regional economy for years to come.”
The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation’s Youth Programs is an Application Support Center and is offering extended office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and every other Saturday between 1 and 3 p.m., including May 3, May 17, and May 31. Appointments are not required, but are recommended and will be given priority.
For more information Call 412-441-6950 Ext.124 or 125, email Julia@bloomfield-garfield.org or Judy@bloomfield-garfield.org or visit jobs4summer.org.