In Boston, Chicago, and New York City, research has shown that summer jobs programs lead to a large decrease in violent crime and incarceration. However, in some places, the impacts on earnings are more muted in the short-term. In episode five of J-PAL Voices: The Impact and Promise of Summer Jobs in the United States, we learn how agencies like New York City’s Department of Youth and Community Development are working to ensure that summer jobs programs can create a pathway to good jobs. We learn how these programs teach their participants transferable skills and empower them to chart a future that best suits each individual’s needs.

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