OREANDA-NEWS. May 16, 2016. The 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, a coalition of 40 top U.S. companies, brought its national youth hiring movement to Washington state on May 5 and offered hundreds of jobs.

As many as 5.5 million young Americans are not working and not in school. That includes an estimated 50,000 in the Seattle area. In a continuing effort to connect these young people with meaningful jobs and career paths, the coalition hosted its fourth job fair in Seattle to support and inspire those between the ages of 16 and 24 who are looking for opportunities to work and further their education.

Seattle Results, By the Numbers:

  • 1,500 young adults attended
  • 1,300 interviews
  • 700 on the spot job offers
  • 100 second interview requests
  • Hundreds of youth worked on their resumes and completed job applications
  • 700 volunteers and staff from coalition companies supported the young job seekers
  • 500 youth participated in a Find Your Fit styling session by Nordstrom and Goodwill
  • 300 youth learned how to tie a tie through the Macy’s Power Tie booth
  • 300 youth learned to make a Starbucks Flat White beverage
  • 300 youth styled by JCPenney and Sephora
  • 300 LinkedIn profiles created with professional photos
  • 200 youth participated in practice interviews led by the United Way
  • 100 youth registered to vote
  • 250 youth learned more about banking and financial resources

Hiring Momentum Continues 

This is the fourth gathering of major companies for a 100,000 Opportunities Initiative Fair and Forum. Similar job fairs in Chicago, Phoenix and Los Angeles resulted in thousands of jobs for young people. 

In addition, the coalition has sparked other hiring efforts involving the private and public sectors. Recently (May 12) the City of Chicago hosted 21 companies that hired more than 300 young adults from across Chicago in partnership with Thrive Chicago, a collective impact non-profit with the objective of supporting Chicago’s youth and the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership.

“The 100,000 Opportunities Initiative started right here in Chicago last year. I am proud that it has already helped reconnect more than 1,000 young Chicagoans to job opportunities and the values that go with them so they can stay on the right path to a safer and stronger future,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “I look forward to continuing our work with our private sector partners to extend more hands of opportunity to young people who need them the most to change lives and build stronger communities for years to come.”