More than a dozen American companies announced on Monday a pledge to hire a combined 100,000 young people in the United States until 2018 to help them build a successful career.
Called the 100,0000 Opportunities Initiative, the commitment is aimed at providing opportunities to low-income people age 16 to 24 apprenticeships, internships, training programs, and both part-time and full-time jobs. The founding companies are Alaska Airlines, Cintas, CVS Health, Hilton Worldwide, HMSHost, JCPenney, JPMorgan Chase, Lyft, Macy's, Microsoft, Porch.com, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Target, Walgreens and Walmart. The statement said the coalition is open to new companies joining the group.
A Wall Street Journal report said the coalition was initiated by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz who had pledged to hiring low income workers in the U.S. in the next three years.
The companies said that the initiative as a way of helping address the mismatch between 5.6 million unemployed people between 16 and 24 years old in the U.S. with the 3.5 million job openings that do not require a college degree.
"For employers looking to fill these jobs, young, motivated workers are a vital and untapped resource. However, young people are often unaware that these opportunities are available, nor are they aware of the steps they need to take to pursue and secure these jobs. At the same time, employers often do not have clear strategies to effectively recruit, train and retain young workers," the statement said.
The program will start with a job fair in Chicago on Aug. 13, where the participating companies are targeting to collectively train more than 2,000 youth and make at least 200 on-the-spot job offers. The initiative has partnered with local civic in Chicago to to provide resources including on-the-spot mentorship and feedback, mock-interviews and skills training for job readiness, college prep, volunteer opportunities and internships.
