Youth Workforce

A team from Worksystems was among a delegation of Portland-based organizations that traveled to Washington, DC in early March to take part in a gathering designed to create positive outcomes for young people affected by violence or involved with the justice system. The Youth Systems Building Academy, hosted by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, was a three-day summit focused on creating skill-building and income-generating opportunities for youth facing barriers to employment. // Read more

We are on track to place 1,000 area youth in jobs this summer!

On July 1, an event was held at the Oregon Historical Society Museum to celebrate this exciting milestone. Commissioner Smith, Mayor Hales and Senator Wyden were guest speakers and provided motivation and encouragement to the SummerWorks program participants in attendance.

KOIN covers SummerWorks Celebration!

Thank you to our Sponsors: // Read more

Each year, Worksystems provides paid work experiences for roughly 1,000 young people at local employers. For many of them, this is their first job.

Supervisors at the work sites have reported that the cultural divide makes it challenging for them to effectively manage Millennials in the workplace. In response, we commissioned the development of an online training to help supervisors better understand the unique aspects of this generation and provide them with tools to create an inclusive and productive work environment.
  // Read more

This summer, over 750 area youth are engaging in a paid work experience - a first for many of them.

Worksystems' SummerWorks program provides work readiness training and funding for disadvantaged youth to participate in a 6-9 week paid work experience. The City of Portland, Multnomah County, and Washington County provide significant funding and work sites to support the program. In addition, over 60 public and private sector sponsors are contributing this year - doubling last year's number! Thank you to all of our sponsors who make this valuable program possible. // Read more