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SYEP logo featuring a Summer Youth Employment participant posing for a photo

What Is SYEP?

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.

By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, NYC youth are better prepared for careers of the future.

What the Program Offers?

  • Career Exploration: Flex your research skills and discover new career possibilities.
  • Paid Project-Based Learning: NYC Teens aged 14—15 learn about career opportunities and make a difference in their communities through paid project-based activities.
  • Work Experiences: Young people aged 16–24 improve their work readiness skills and explore career pathways through paid summer jobs in a variety of industries throughout NYC.
  • Earn Money: Get paid to participate!

Who Can Apply?

SYEP is open to NYC youth who meet the following requirements*:

  • Must reside within the five boroughs of New York City
  • Be legally allowed to work in the United States

* Some service options have additional eligibility requirements.

What Service Option is Right for Me?

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Click a service option, or press the enter key on an option for more information.

SYEP Community Based (Ages 14-24 through a Randomized Selection Process)

SYEP's Community Based option provides NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience! This is an exciting opportunity to gain real world work experience and sharpen your skillset. Participants are selected via randomized lottery.

How to apply? 

  • The deadline to submit applications was 04/14/2023. No further applications may be submitted.

SYEP CareerREADY (Ages 14-21 from Select DOE Schools)

Designed for students between the ages of 14 and 21 from select DOE schools to provide career exploration opportunities and paid work experience. 

Eligibility Requirement: 

  • Must attend one of the DOE schools listed here
Benefits of CareerReady SYEP: 
  • Selection to the program is conducted by the participating schools rather than the online lottery 
  • Programs are co-created by the school and the SYEP provider to reflect the school’s program focus and students’ career interests 
  • Students receive comprehensive work-readiness training before their summer experience
  • Provides opportunity to connect real-world work experiences with what you learn in the classroom, earn high school credit, and/or WBL hours towards a CDOS pathway
How to apply?
Please contact your school or the provider today to learn more about the application process.

SYEP Emerging Leaders (Ages 14-24 with Employment Barriers)

SYEP's Emerging Leaders option provides opportunities to youth ages 14 to 24 who face at least one of the following employment barriers: homeless or runaway youth, justice-involved youth, youth in or aging out of foster care, youth in families who are receiving preventive services through NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS.

The Emerging Leaders Program is based on agency partnerships that help youth to navigate life's challenges and empower them through a project /work-based lens.

Eligibility  Requirements:

  • Must be a resident of the five boroughs of NYC.
  • Legally allowed to work in the United States.
  • Must be referred by affiliated agency support staff

Must face one of the listed employment barriers below to be served

  • Homeless & Runaway (Residing in Shelters)
  • Justice/Court Involved
  • Foster Care
  • Receiving Preventive Services through ACS

Special partners recruit/refer available NYC youth through additional service options:
*Youth must receive a direct referral from their support agency.

  • DOE-ACCESS            • DOE- Students in Temporary Housing
  • DOE-D75                  • End Domestic and Gender Based Violence
  • DOE-D79                  • HRA – Cash Assistance through Business Link
  • DOE-LYFE                 • Runaway Homeless Youth


  • Young people aged 14—15 can participate in paid project-based activities which will help them explore different career opportunities
  • Young people aged 16—24 can apply for paid summer jobs in a variety of industries throughout NYC.

SYEP Map to $uccess (For NYCHA Residents in Select MAP Developments)

The SYEP MAP to $uccess Program is designed to provide SYEP opportunities to youth ages 14 to 24 who currently reside in select MAP Housing Developments

The goal of the MAP to $uccess is based on agency partnerships that help young people to navigate life's challenges and empower them through a project /work-based lens. 

Eligibility  Requirement:

  • Must be a resident of the five boroughs of NYC.
  • Legally allowed to work in the United States.
  • Must be a resident of one of the identified MAP developments.
MAP Developments:

·  Boulevard ·  Jefferson · Stapleton

·  Brownsville

·  Johnson

· Tompkins
·  Bushwick ·  Patterson · Van Dyke

·  Butler

·  Polo Grounds

· Wagner
·  Castle Hill · Queensbridge · Wyckoff
·  Gowanus ·  Red Hook
·  Ingersoll ·  St. Nicholas

SYEP CareerFIRST (For NYCHA Residents in Select Non-MAP Developments)

SYEP's CareerFIRST Program is designed to provide summer opportunities to youth ages 14 to 24 who currently reside in select non-MAP NYCHA public Housing Developments.

CareerFIRST provides work-readiness training and paid project-based or work-based experiences for participants.

Eligibility Requirement:

  • Must be a resident of the five boroughs of NYC.
  • Legally allowed to work in the United States.
  • Must be a resident of one of the identified NYCHA developments.
CareerFirst Developments:

·     Baruch

·    Ravenswood

·     Breukelen

·    Throggs Neck

·     Bronx River

·    Tilden

·     Farragut

·    West Brighton

·     King Towers