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Youth Employment Resources

Are you interested in finding your first job but don’t know where to start? Perhaps you already have a job but are looking for additional resources. Or maybe you work with young people and want to know what’s available for youth in the State? This page offers resources and information to help you get started or stay on track.

#DLTWorks

Gain skills in a professional setting while getting support along the way!

Whether you’re a young person who wants to learn new skills or an adult who wants to connect a young person to an opportunity, the DLT and our partner organizations offer FREE or reduced-cost programming during the school year and summer. These programs are designed to help you explore education, training, or employment opportunities. So, what are you waiting for, start exploring!

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Meet with a Career Coach (Youth WIOA)

To get connected to training, education, employment, and/or support services, visit one of our youth centers or call to speak to someone today!

 

More Information

View Current Youth Internship Opportunities

If you are between the ages of 14-24 years old, the Governor’s Workforce Board has many youth internship opportunities waiting for you!

 

Find Opportunities

Child Labor Laws

Are you between the ages of 14-17 and don’t know what your rights are when working? Are you looking to employ a youth and want to make sure you’re following State laws?

 

Educate Me

Highlights and Stories

View a highlight reel of our Real Skills for Youth 2023 Summer Program.
View a highlight reel of our Real Skills for Youth 2022 Summer Program.
Real Skills for Youth Participant at Work

Dylan enrolled in the Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP) in 2020 as a summer employment participant. He participated in the first-ever Construction cohort in 2022 and was enrolled in Youth WIOA in July 2022. He was looking for training in the welding field and he was in a welding program. 

Today, Dylan works as a pipe-fitter at Electric Boat and volunteers his personal time to mentor students in the Real Skills for Youth Summer Program. 

Real Skills for Youth Participant at Work

Leslyann began participating in DownCity Design's free afterschool programs as a junior in high school. She was a participant in their Summer Design/Build internship program for 2 consecutive summers. Lesly collaborated with other teens to create 4 service projects, including an outdoor classroom for Young Woods Elementary School, a community garden for Gilbert Stuart Middle School, and planter beds for the Saint Martin de Porres Senior Center. 

Having discovered a love of mechanical systems while at DCD, she decided to pursue a career in Engineering, and recently graduated from college with a BS in Engineering. 

Real Skills for Youth Participant at Work

The Career Exploration Equity Grant from the Governor's Workforce Board allowed Scituate High School to organize a successful field trip for 30 students (grades 9-12) to The New England Laborer’s Union campus in Pomfret, Connecticut.

Students engaged with trainees, gaining insights into dormitory life and paid apprenticeships. This experience was not only educational but also eye-opening, as many students discovered apprenticeships in skilled labor sectors that they could potentially pursue. 

JA Career Fair from above

JA Inspire is a coalition of educators and industry leaders, led by Junior Achievement of Rhode Island. This interactive experience provides students with an exciting look into fast-growing, high-demand careers available in our state.

JA Inspire is an in-person career exploration fair for 8th-grade students that takes place at the Rhode Island Convention Center in December. Students learn about high school, college, and career opportunities. Some of the careers that are highlighted at the fair include opportunities from local businesses, non-profits, government agencies, and educational organizations. 

Additional Resources

  • Youth Resource Guide - The Education, Training and Career Resource Guide is designed for young adults, ages 18+, and contains comprehensive information about the many programs and services available to support the achievement of education and career goals. 
  • Comprehensive Support Service Directory -  Find employment resources and other supportive services to help you on the pathway to a career. Also available En Español.
  • PrepareRI - Prepare RI offers support with career exploration and education, finding college credit courses, and jobs and internships. Check out their High School Summer Internship Program for paid summer internship opportunities. 
  • All Course Network (ACN)- A statewide course catalog that lets students take free courses at other schools, colleges, or online.   
  • Career & Technical Education (CTE)- Designed to provide students with the academic and applied skills they need to be successful in the workforce and beyond.    
  • Adult Education in RI- Adult Education programs support Rhode Island adults in gaining skills and credentials for employment, citizenship, and family and community leadership.  
  • Skills for Rhode Island’s Future – Skills for Rhode Island’s Future is a non-profit organization that connects underemployed Rhode Islanders to jobs with socially responsible, civic-minded employers. 

Complaint System 

For complaints about employment services provided at one of our career centers, an employer, any employment-related law, or an employer you've been referred to by the Employment Service program, contact the Complaint System Representative listed on the flyer.   

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