Who this helps: Young New Yorkers ages 14 to 24 — especially anyone who missed the Summer Youth Employment Program deadline, is out of work and out of school, is finishing high school equivalency, or wants paid job training with a real credential at the end. If you assumed your only shot at a city youth program closed in March, this is the guide for you.
Every spring, tens of thousands of young New Yorkers race to apply for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). And every year, plenty miss it. The 2026 SYEP application deadline was March 13, 2026, and no further applications can be submitted — confirmed on the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) site. But here’s what most people don’t realize: SYEP is just one of six paid youth employment and training programs DYCD runs, and several of them are year-round — meaning you can apply right now, in late May, with no summer deadline to beat.
DYCD is the city’s lead agency for youth employment, and its programs help young people ages 14 to 24 gain work experience and continue their education. Here’s the full menu, verified against DYCD’s Jobs & Internships page, and how to find one near you.
The year-round programs you can pursue now
Train & Earn — for 16-to-24-year-olds out of work and out of school
Train & Earn is a year-long program for low-income youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not working and not in school. It provides extensive job training and employment services with the goal of helping participants find a permanent job. If you fell out of both school and work, this is the program built for your exact situation — and it isn’t tied to the summer calendar.
Advance & Earn — for 16-to-24-year-olds who want a credential
Advance & Earn is a training and employment program for youth ages 16 to 24 that combines comprehensive High School Equivalency (HSE) test preparation, employer-recognized trainings, credentials and certifications, and paid internships. If you don’t have a diploma yet but want to build toward a real career, this program stacks the equivalency prep and the job training together.
Work, Learn & Grow (WLG) — a paid 22-week program for ages 16 to 20
Work, Learn & Grow offers NYC youth ages 16 to 20 a paid, 22-week opportunity to strengthen work-readiness skills, explore postsecondary education and careers, and potentially earn college credit. It often functions as a school-year complement to SYEP.
Learn & Earn — year-round support for at-risk high schoolers
Learn & Earn is a year-round program for high school juniors and seniors at risk of dropping out. It provides occupational skills training, employment services, and educational opportunities to keep students on track to graduate while gaining work experience.
CRED-NYC — for justice-involved or violence-impacted young adults
Community Resources for Employment and Development (CRED-NYC) serves participants ages 18 to 40 who are involved in the criminal justice system or impacted by community violence. It offers work-readiness training, occupational training, and internships in in-demand sectors for up to 24 weeks, plus job placement within a three-month follow-up period. Participants also get support services including mental health counseling and connections to social services.
And next summer’s SYEP
If a summer job is specifically what you want, SYEP is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth ages 14 to 24 with paid summer work experience for up to six weeks. The 2026 cycle is closed, but the application typically opens in the late fall or winter ahead of each summer. Mark your calendar now and watch the SYEP page — missing the March deadline is the single most common reason young New Yorkers lose out, and it’s entirely avoidable.
How to Take Action
1. Find a program site near you. DYCD runs these programs through community-based provider organizations across all five boroughs. Use the DiscoverDYCD site finder to locate a provider near you and see which programs they offer.
2. Match yourself to the right program. Out of work and out of school (16–24)? Start with Train & Earn. Need your HSE plus job training? Advance & Earn. Still in high school and at risk? Learn & Earn. Justice-involved or violence-impacted (18–40)? CRED-NYC.
3. See the full list of vocational trainings. DYCD maintains a complete list of trainings across its vocational career-development programs on its Workforce Connect pages.
4. Call for help. For general questions about DYCD youth programs, call the DYCD information line at 800-246-4646.
Stretch the rest of your young-professional budget
Paid training is one piece. While you build your career, the city offers a lot more for young New Yorkers on a budget — see our guides to free networking on a zero-dollar budget and free career coaching at the New York Public Library.
Frequently Asked Questions
I missed the 2026 SYEP deadline. Am I out of luck for the whole year? No. SYEP’s 2026 deadline (March 13, 2026) has passed, but DYCD’s year-round programs — Train & Earn, Advance & Earn, Learn & Earn, and CRED-NYC — are not tied to the summer calendar. Use the DiscoverDYCD site finder to apply through a provider.
Do these programs pay? SYEP and Work, Learn & Grow are paid; CRED-NYC and the year-round training programs combine training with employment services and internships. Pay and stipend details vary by program and provider — confirm specifics with the provider you apply through.
What if I don’t have a high school diploma? Advance & Earn is built for that — it combines High School Equivalency (HSE) test preparation with employer-recognized trainings, certifications, and paid internships.
How old do I have to be? Most DYCD youth programs serve ages 14 to 24; Work, Learn & Grow is 16–20, Train & Earn and
