State Boosts Summer Youth Jobs Program to $9 Million
New Jersey's Summer Youth Work Experience Program expands to 14-year-olds and receives $1 million more than last year.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Internships
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New Jersey will spend $9 million on its Summer Youth Work Experience Program next summer, $1 million more than last year. The program now opens to 14-year-olds, expanding its prior minimum age of 16.
Why it matters
The program links paid summer jobs to community-based violence intervention, and the expanded age range brings younger teens into the initiative. The added funding comes from the governor's first budget.
The program has invested more than $39 million and partnered with more than 500 worksites since its 2019 pilot. Participants receive 160 to 200 hours of paid work and a stipend of up to $3,400, but the stub does not state how many slots the $9 million will fund.
The players
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
The state agency that administers workforce programs and oversees grant applications for the Summer Youth Work Experience Program.
The details
Participants receive 160 to 200 hours of paid work, a stipend of up to $3,400, orientation and workforce training, and supportive services. Local workforce development boards, New Jersey municipalities and previous program grantees may apply for grants to run the program.
Timeline
2019: The program began as a pilot.
November 5, 2026: The governor and department announced expanded funding and age eligibility.
November 23, 2026: A grant information session was held.
December 7, 2026: Letters of intent are due by noon.
December 8, 2026: A mandatory virtual technical assistance workshop begins at 10 a.m.
Market Landscape
The expansion extends a program that began as a 2019 pilot and now pairs paid summer work with community-based violence intervention. Its shift to a lower age floor of 14 broadens the pool of young workers the state is directly funding.
Teens as young as 14 can now apply for paid summer work through the program, which pays up to $3,400 in stipends. Local workforce boards and municipalities can apply for grants to run the program before the December deadlines.
The takeaway
Young New Jerseyans interested in paid summer work should watch for how the expanded program is administered locally. Expanded funding and age eligibility may open new paid experience for teens entering the workforce.
What happens next
Grant applications are due by noon on December 21, 2026, after a mandatory technical assistance workshop on December 8, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more internship opportunities that connect young workers with paid summer experience.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NJTODAY.
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