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Marion County-funded program reports 21 youths employed, seeks better outreach and new evaluation tool
Summary
Marion County commissioners heard a biannual report from Willamette Workforce Partnership on March 26 detailing that 21 youths were employed through a county-funded youth employment program; staff said outreach, timing and survey response rates limited early participation and they plan new promotion and a revised survey tool.
Marion County commissioners on March 26 heard a biannual report on the county-funded youth employment program that reimburses employers to hire local teenagers.
Sarah Cooley, of the county—conomic Development Program in Community Services, introduced the Willamette Workforce Partnership presentation and said the county holds a funding agreement that provides $60,000 annually for the program through June 2026.
Dean Craig, business services director for Willamette Workforce Partnership, said the program had 20 employers apply this year, 9 employers were approved, and 21 youth were employed. "We have reimbursed $8,897.95," Craig said when summarizing the most recent reimbursement period; he added that the contract total so far includes 3,100.9 hours worked and $15,504.03 in reimbursements.
The program targets youth ages 14 through 17 and reimburses part of employers' costs to encourage hiring. Craig said outreach has been "via e-mail primarily, and social media, and our website," and that Marion County and partner organizations have helped share the opportunity.
Presenters told the board the program started the current contract year slowly, which contributed to a timing mismatch: "We missed the first wave," Commissioner Cameron said during discussion. Staff said some employers hired earlier in the season than the program anticipated, and the late program start reduced the pool of available youth at the same moment employers were hiring.
Willamette Workforce Partnership staff described quality-control steps in approving employers, saying some applicants were declined for safety or legal reasons. They also discussed past efforts to measure program effects on youth using an "Oregon employability skills" questionnaire and said the current instrument had not produced useful results. Craig said the partnership is adopting a newly developed survey built specifically for this purpose and will use it going forward.
County and partnership staff outlined outreach plans to increase participation. Commissioners encouraged more in-person promotion at community events and schools; presenters said they will bring program information to AgFest and to Salem-Keizer Career Connections events where students attend mock interviews. Craig also suggested enlisting employers to help ensure youth complete end-of-placement surveys.
Commissioners and presenters described employers s supportive of the reimbursement because it reduces the financial risk of hiring inexperienced workers. Craig noted the local minimum wage figure discussed in the presentation, saying employers find the reimbursement helpful when paying entry-level wages.
No formal action was required from the board on the presentation. Presenters said they will implement the new survey, expand outreach at community events and through schools, and report back on participation and outcomes in future biannual updates.
