Chicago announces largest youth employment program with 32,000 paid positions

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) have announced a major expansion of youth employment initiatives. The city has created 32,498 paid job opportunities for youth and young adults for 2026 through the expansion of Chicago Youth Works (CYW) and the launch of the Career Exploration and Employment Preparation (CEEP) program.

Chicago Youth Works provides paid summer employment for residents aged 14 to 24 by partnering with municipal agencies, community organizations, and local employers. The recent expansion adds over 2,000 additional paid opportunities during the final weeks of summer vacation. Data indicates that approximately 26.69% of CYW applicants identified as Hispanic/Latino.