Earn + Learn Employer Opportunity
The County of Erie and its partners, GECAC and Erie Together, invite your company/organization to participate in the 2023 Earn + Learn Program commencing this summer.
Through Earn + Learn, we will be placing up to 150 youth, aged 14-21 into 180-hour job placements to perform necessary work for participating employers. First time summer workers will learn what it takes to become a good employee, and be a reliable part of a team. Older youth participants will receive exposure to jobs which assist in developing future career interests. Industrial employers in need of trainees can utilize Earn + Learn to find long-term solutions to chronic worker shortages.
GECAC is administering the Earn + Learn program and will assign each youth participant into one of two tiers:
- Tier 1 youth will be generally younger in age (14-17), and their job placements should be those most like a “first job,” with a focus on developing and honing employability skills that will help them be good employees over the course of their employment and lifetime.
- Tier 2 youth will be generally older (aged 16-21) and will include individuals ready for more strategic, career pathways-related job placements. The focus for this cohort of young people will be to connect them with employers that will give them real-world, relevant work experience in industries in which they’re interested.
The compensation structure for Tier 1 youth will be $8.25/hour for the first 90 hours, and $8.50/hour for the remaining 90 hours. For Tier 2 youth, compensation will be $10.00/hour for the first 90 hours and $10.50/hour for the remaining 90 hours. Compensation for youths’ job placements will be underwritten by the Earn + Learn program, with a required employer match to support a portion of youth wages as follows:
- Tier 1 youth: Employer wage match will be required on the second 90 of the 180 hours. This match will equal $4.25/hour for 90 hours, totaling $382.50 per youth.
- Tier 2 youth: Employer wage match will be required on all 180 hours. This match will equal $5.00/hour for the first 90 hours, and $5.25/hour for the remaining 90 hours, totaling $922.50.
There is a limit of three youth per employer, but exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Jamilia Gates, Earn + Learn Program Director, for more information at jgates@gecac.org.
If your company/organization is interested in offering job placement(s) for one or more Tier 1 or Tier 2 youth, please indicate your interest by completing this very brief survey. (Note: Earn + Learn plans to limit each employer to three youth job placements. If we have more students than participating employers, we may adjust that cap if needed.)
This program is for new hires, not a subsidy for those already working. If you are interested in participating, you will be invited to an Employer Orientation prior to program commencement in June. If you choose to participate later in the year and funding is available, an orientation will be scheduled. Thank you!
