Atlanta, Georgia – Last week, Atlanta business owners and community leaders got together to celebrate a growing commitment to hiring young people. The ADOLES Business Mixer showed off companies that hired young people during the 2025 Summer Youth Employment Program.
The event took place at Pittsburgh Yards and brought together city officials, employers, and nonprofit partners to talk about how summer jobs are affecting the future workforce in Atlanta.
The city’s Department of Labor and Employment Services organized the event to recognize more than 100 employers and signature partners who gave young people paid job opportunities throughout Atlanta. Last summer was the first time several of those companies had youth workers. City leaders pointed out that these early opportunities are very important for helping youngsters gain confidence, learn what is expected of them at work, and start planning their careers.
Read also: Fulton County stands out nationally for sustained economic development performance
The initiative gave households more than just short-term cash. Students acquired new skills, got a taste of what it’s like to work in a professional setting, and looked at careers they would not have thought of before. In a tight job market, employers might mentor new talent and build up their long-term staff pipelines at the same time.
The 2025 program’s data showed that momentum continued to be strong. Over 7,500 young people signed up, which is a big jump from the year before, and almost 6,000 got jobs, which was more than the city’s goal. Young people who worked for the city made an average of little over $18 an hour and worked more than 245,000 hours in total. There was also a big increase in the number of businesses that signed up—231, which is more than twice as many as the year before.
Read also: Alpharetta rolls out digital-first campaign to support company expansion and relocation
The city additionally addressed the pilot project that the Annie E. Casey Foundation helped start that looked at longer-term results. A dozen young people moved from seasonal work to permanent, living-wage positions through a Summer-to-Permanent Placement program. Plans are in place to increase that number in the coming months.
The awards given out at the mixer honored employers who showed great leadership, partnership, and influence. Organizers said they were a sign of a shared belief that investing in young people over time makes neighborhoods, businesses, and the local economy stronger.
Read also: Record group of new employees joins Fulton County Sheriff’s Office workforce
As the night came to an end, municipal leaders encouraged businesses to stay involved after the summer by offering mentorship, more job placements, and looking at long-term hiring options. Officials emphasized that working together will be important to make sure that Atlanta’s young people have chances that last more than one season.
