This MDRC study assesses the academic and labor market impacts of New York City’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), the nation’s largest summer jobs program for young people.

The federal government has greatly reduced its funding for summer job programs. These programs, however, have attracted increased attention in light of the unprecedented increase in unemployment rates among youth over the past two decades. Recent research suggests that participating in summer jobs programs (or summer jobs in general) can have positive impacts on young people’s academic outcomes in the short run. To date, there has been little rigorous research examining whether summer jobs positively impact young people’s employment and postsecondary outcomes. This study, which follows youth for up to eight years, assesses the impact of SYEP and provides crucial information to inform national, state, and local policy for youth.