Welcome to LA County’s Youth@Work Program

Youth@Work

DEO’s Youth@Work program provides the County’s future workforce with first-time, paid work experiences with high-growth and high-road sectors, building skills and experiences that meet the region’s talent needs now and in the future. The program offers LA County youth ages 14 to 24 with personal enrichment and hands-on paid work experience through our America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) and local employer partners.

Group photo of around 25 people smiling in front of a large, colorful mural of SpongeBob SquarePants with an exposed anatomical cross-section.

Five people gathered around a table covered with a large planning map, actively discussing and placing colored shapes on the layout during a community engagement activity.

For Youth

Participation in 20 hours of personal enrichment programming DEO’s Transition Age Youth – World of Work (TAY-WOW) class with an AJCC, including life skills, career pathway planning, and job portfolio development and readiness
140 hours of paid work experience with hundreds of participating employer partners as host sites. This includes $17.87 per hour in wages, starting July 1st, 2025.
Post-program connection to additional hiring, training, and education opportunities
Connection to supportive services and mentorship programs

For Employers

Access to a new and emerging talent pipeline for approximately two months of part-time work prior to hire, where opportunities are available
Earn wage and insurance subsidy for up to 140 hours of paid work by youth participants with an AJCC as employer of record
Serve as a host site and the development of the County’s future of work

Students and young adults engage with organization representatives across multiple booths during a job and resource fair in a modern, well-lit event space.

A group of attendees seated in rows at a community job center listening to a presenter standing at the front of the room near banners that read 'Who We Are' and 'America’s Job Center of California.

Promotional flyer for LA County’s Youth@Work program by the Department of Economic Opportunity. The flyer invites youth ages 14–24 to explore career pathways and earn $17.87/hour. A call to action reads “Learn more: bit.ly/DEOYouthAtWork,” and social media icons with the handle @EconOppLA are shown. The background features a purple-blue gradient over a city skyline with a smiley face inside the word “WORK.”

A colorful balloon arch in red, white, blue, and yellow frames the entrance to a Youth@Work event hosted by the Department of Economic Opportunity, County of Los Angeles. A check-in table with a teal tablecloth and program staff sits at the front, while attendees engage with employers in the background. A sign reads "Welcome to the Youth@Work Employer Check-In.

GET STARTED:

For Youth

The Youth@Work Program enrolls individuals who meet the following criteria and bring the following documentation:

Live in Los Angeles County (proof of residence) Live in Los Angeles County
- Proof of residence such as a document showing a home address within LA County (e.g., school document, or government-issued ID).
Are 14 to 24 at time of enrollment
- A valid form of identification to confirm age (e.g., school ID, state ID, driver’s license, or birth certificate).
Maintain legal right to work in the U.S.
- Required documents per the federal I-9 form, such as:
  - U.S. Passport or
  - Government, state, or school-issued photo ID and one of the following: Social Security card, birth certificate, or work authorization card.
May face barriers to work or school, such as LGBTQ+, current or former foster youth, youth from CalWORKS households, youth from low-income households, pregnant or parenting youth, justice-impacted youth, or youth experiencing homelessness
- Self-attestation with AJCC

Interested young adults will be asked to fill out an enrollment form with an AJCC and provide the noted documentation to participate. If unsure about eligibility, fill out an interest form to gain assistance from DEO or AJCC staff.

Interested and eligible youth should fill out the following interest form to sign-up. DEO and AJCC Youth@Work staff will reach out within 48 hours to visit a job enter to enroll, review documents, schedule for a TAY-WOW class, and match to an employer host site.

Check out the Youth interest form here

For additional questions about workforce opportunities for young adults, email: youthatwork@opportunity.lacounty.gov

For Employers

The Youth@Work Program enrolls employers as host sites. Host sites must work with an AJCC to enroll as a participating employer, identify employer demand and commitments for the program, fill out a host site agreement with a detailed training plan for the 140 hours, identify managerial oversight and point of contact with lead AJCC, and validate hours worked by youth.

DEO is specifically looking for employers who represent high-growth sectors in the region and offer pathways to hire. This includes: Aerospace and Defense, Life Sciences, Construction and Infrastructure, Creative Sector, Early Care and Education, Healthcare, Hospitality and Tourism, Information Technology and Trade, Transportation and Logistics.

If interested in becoming a Youth Worksite for the Youth@Work Program, please complete the application below. DEO and AJCC Youth@Work staff will reach out within 48 hours.

Check out the Employer interest form here

For additional questions about hiring and training opportunities, email:  Hireayouth@opportunity.lacounty.gov

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Promotional Graphic for Youth at Work Program. Information in Image says LA county youth ages 14-24 can explore new career pathways and earn seventeen dollars and 87 cents through the program. There are icons of a briefcase, shop, and handshake in the image.

Eaton Fire Youth@Work

In response to the January 2025 Windstorms and Wildfires, DEO is providing 500 Youth@Work job opportunities for youth and young adults ages 14–24 who were impacted by the Eaton Fire.

Youth who lived or are currently living in the fire zone, evacuation order zone, or evacuation warning zone during the Eaton Fire emergency are eligible to apply.

Youth Interest Form

Employer Interest Form