Final numbers show growth for Learn & Earn 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA (September 23, 2019) - As summertime comes to a close, Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh and Partner4Work are pleased to announce that the Learn & Earn summer jobs program served more young adults than ever this year.

There were 1,899 city and county youth who obtained jobs through Learn & Earn in 2019, 76 more than in 2018. There were also more young people that completed the program – 1,778 – than ever before in the program’s five-year history.

The numbers include the 55 corporate placements with 26 employers, the most corporate engagement yet. There were 1,074 city youth served and 825 from the county.

“We’re delighted to see this program continue to grow and provide skills that the youth in this county can continue to build on as they pursue further education or careers,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “This initiative would not have been possible without the support of our partners in the nonprofit and business communities who have opened up their doors to our county’s youth."

“Learn & Earn has successfully spread opportunity to Pittsburgh-area kids year after year and year, and I couldn’t be happier with its accomplishments. It all goes to show how successful we can be when the public and private sectors work collectively to invest in our future,” Mayor William Peduto said.

Learn & Earn is a paid summer jobs program that provides young adults with the opportunity to gain work experience, develop soft skills and explore careers. In addition to the time spent working, young people participate in professional development to hone their work-readiness skills.

The program continues to be an economic driver for the city and county. Since its start in 2015, Learn & Earn participants have earned more than $9 million in wages and worked more than 1,350,000 hours.

Youth have worked at more than 350 worksites throughout the region with experiences ranging from college preparation and introduction to construction to video production and developing marketing strategies. Corporate and non-profit partners in 2019 included A. Philip Randolph Institute, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, ATI, BotsIQ, the Buhl Foundation, Community College of Allegheny County, Citizens Bank, Office of City Council President Bruce Kraus, Office of Councilwoman Darlene Harris, the City of Pittsburgh, Consortium of Public Education, Ikos, Jones Day, Marc USA, Mattress Factory, Never Fear Being Different, Partner4Work, PNC, Presbyterian Senior Care Network, Office of Representative Jake Wheatley, and UPMC. Recruitment is open now for 2020 corporate partners.

“Learn & Earn continues to be a model program in collaboration, bringing together local government, businesses, foundations, and non-profits,” said Earl Buford, Partner4Work CEO. "Thanks to our partners who continue to step up, and open their doors to the region’s future workforce, we are preparing the next generation to keep the economy thriving in the years ahead.”

A final report analyzing the 2019 Learn & Earn program will be issued in December.