Originally posted on September 11 by Adrianna Lawrence on WBTW ABC News 13
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and members of the state Department of Employment and Workforce visited the Florence Family YMCA Tuesday afternoon, highlighting the importance of young people in the workforce.
Finding workers is one of the state’s top concerns, according to the SCDEW. Encouraging young people to get out and work will benefit employers and teach kids valuable life skills.
When you walk through the doors of the Florence Family YMCA, you’re greeted by young workers, eager to learn, grow and, of course, make their own money. Some are as young as 13 years old.
“I’ve learned that I have to have a lot of patience and that I need to always try to strive through to keep me going,” one young worker said.
Others are in high school and beyond.
“Some sense of dependability by being on time and when I’m needed,” another young worker said. “I learn how to problem solve whenever there is like small conflict.”
Another worker said: “My brother worked here, and my sister, so we’ve really been here for a long time. It just feels like family to me.”
The Youth Employment Initiative aims to provide a resource for young people to find jobs and help employers in need of workers.
That’s where SCDEW and Evette come in to say young people are the next workforce.
“Why do we want our young people working?” Evette said. “Because we need them. Your small businesses, your community businesses, those are the businesses that support your Little League teams and your soccer teams here at the Y. They need our help. They need our kids to get involved and get working.”
Brian New, CEO of the Florence Family YMCA, said he’s seen firsthand how valuable starting work at a young age can be.
“They come back to me and tell me what the Y has meant, what that first job meant to them and what they learned through that first job here,” New said.
SCDEW Executive Director William Floyd III said kids, some as young as 13, will pave the way for the next workforce.
“This is great to know where workforce begins and begins with Madison and younger,” Floyd said.
New said the Florence Family YMCA is always hiring young people. You can find a full list of jobs, here.