Michael Rock’s Bright Idea for Businesses Who Need Employees

As a radio personality and leader, I've spent decades talking with local businesses about their products and services, but also the challenges they are striving to overcome. The biggest thing I'm hearing now is the struggle to find quality employees across the SouthCoast.

I literally have never seen it this bad. We have businesses that are closing on the weekends because they can't find the staff they need.

That's why I'm thrilled to learn more about MassHire GNB Youth, which helps youth ages 14-25 prepare for the workplace, explore careers that interest them, gain experience and so much more. Through Connecting Activities, they are looking for local employers to host internships, job shadowing, and mentoring programs, but my favorite opportunity is the Youth Works Summer Program.

Through this program, MassHire GNB Youth subsidizes training and wages while underserved youth work at a local business for six weeks. When Water Wizz Water Park in Wareham participated, they even gave the youth opportunity to earn a lifeguard certification while gaining valuable work experience and earning a paycheck. At the end of the six weeks, Water Wizz ended up hiring them for the rest of the summer, even though they were under no obligation to do so. That's how impressed they were with these young workers.

If your business is struggling to find good workers, reach out to MassHire GNB Youth to see if one of their programs would help you — or if they can tailor something to your specific needs. They love thinking outside the box, and I know our local business owners want to help grow and develop our local workforce just as much as they do. Get started at masshiregreaternewbedford.com.

MassHire programs and services are funded in part by US Department of Labor (USDOL) Employment and Training Administration grants as well as non-federal funded grants.