This summer, Worcester faces a challenge and an opportunity.
Due to funding cuts in the Massachusetts YouthWorks program, hundreds of young people who are trained, motivated, and ready to work will not be placed in summer jobs. These are students who will have completed workforce readiness training, who are eager to contribute, and who represent the future of our regional economy.
At the same time, employers across Central Massachusetts continue to face workforce shortages and talent pipeline gaps. The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce is partnering with MassHire, Worcester Community Action Council, the City of Worcester, and the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester on #YES4Worcester to find ways to bridge that divide. We are calling on the Worcester business community to step forward in two possible ways.
First, hire summer help directly. The Worcester Community Action Council can connect employers with a pool of prepared young candidates ready to add value from day one. These placements are short-term, structured, and supported, giving businesses a low-risk, high-impact way to build their future workforce.
Second, sponsor a youth job. For $3,200, a business can fund a six-week summer placement for a young person at one of more than 50 nonprofits across the city. These include trusted institutions like the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, YMCA of Central Massachusetts, Friendly House, and many others that rely on youth workers to expand services during the summer months. Sponsorship not only provides a young person with critical early work experience, but it strengthens the nonprofit sector that serves our community every day.
Without private-sector engagement, too many young people will be left without access to that first job, the experience that our chamber member businesses say is foundational to long-term career success.
We know this model works. Employers like UMass Memorial Health have demonstrated leadership through initiatives like its NextGen Workforce Program, which provides structured summer internships that build skills, confidence, and career pathways. Many YouthWorks alumni have gone on to successful careers right here in Worcester, contributing to the strength and vibrancy of our local economy.
A first job is more than a paycheck. It’s a chance to learn responsibility, build confidence, and see a future. For employers, it’s an investment in talent, community, and long-term growth.
The ask is simple: hire a young person, or fund one. Learn more: https://masshirecentral.com/yes
Timothy Murray is president & CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.
