Work, Learn, Thrive: Youths Gear Up for YSEP 2025
KINGSTON, JAMACA- Since 2017, The Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) launched under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, has been more than just a summer job, it has been a launchpad for thousands of Jamaican youth to immerse themselves into meaningful work and community building activities.
This year, the programme will officially be launched on Tuesday June 17 at the Jamaica Conference Centre with the Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Honourable, Andrew Holness, being the keynote speaker. 10,000 participants will engage in four (4) weeks of impactful, social welfare services, earning $17,000-$18,000 weekly beginning on July 7, 2025.
Over the last 9 years, YSEP has employed approximately 42,000 Jamaicans ages 17-29, helping them to prepare for the world of work, while gaining hands-on experience within the Ministry, its agencies and municipal corporations with some matriculating into permanent employment within those entities.
While speaking at last year’s launch, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development cited that the program is the largest youth summer employment program in the region.
“This is a programme that takes into consideration the needs of young people. It is the largest youth summer employment programme in the Caribbean,” he said.
Participants will assist with infrastructure mapping, traders’ surveying, streetlight auditing, and vulnerable population surveying—data that are crucial to improving the ministry’s database and its agencies.
Some of the entities involved in the programme are the Municipal Corporations, Social Development Commission (SDC), National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Jamaica Fire Brigade, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency management (ODPEM), Board of Supervision, and other Government Ministries and agencies.
