King County, WA — Today, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced the launch of YouthWorks, a new workforce development program that provides paid summer internships and volunteer opportunities for King County residents ages 16-24. Applications are now open for eligible residents.  

Through YouthWorks, participants will gain hands-on experience across King County government while exploring career pathways, building professional skills, and contributing to their communities. Paid internships and volunteer opportunities are available across a range of fields, including public safety, public health, environmental services, and recreation, with placements located throughout King County. Volunteer opportunities also qualify for academic credit. 

“If we want safer, stronger communities tomorrow, we have to invest in young people today. YouthWorks creates opportunities for young people to gain experience, build confidence, and explore their future while contributing to their communities right now,” said Executive Zahilay. “We built this program with young people, not just for them, because their voices, ideas, and leadership make this effort stronger. YouthWorks is truly youth tested and approved.” 

YouthWorks reflects Executive Zahilay’s commitment to investing early in young people by creating opportunities for employment, mentorship, skill-building, and public service experience. The program reflects the Executive’s vision for safer, stronger communities by helping young people access meaningful opportunities to gain work experience, discover career interests, and build connections that support their long-term success. 

To be eligible for YouthWorks summer opportunities, applicants must: 

• Live in King County  

• Be between the ages of 16-24  

• Be available to participate for the full duration of the internship or volunteer assignment 

To apply visit: https://kcyouthworks.org/  

Application deadlines vary by opportunity, and individuals interested in internships, academic credit, and volunteer opportunities are encouraged to apply now. 

YouthWorks brings together 12 King County departments to create a more coordinated and accessible pathway to youth employment, leadership, and service opportunities. Departments worked together to create the County’s first centralized platform for youth to discover available opportunities. In collaboration with the Executive’s Office, County departments expanded volunteer and paid opportunities and, in some cases, created new summer positions designed specifically for youth participation and career exploration. 

YouthWorks was designed with young people, not simply for them. Throughout development and testing, youth participants helped shape the platform’s design, functionality, accessibility, and user experience, helping ensure it reflects the needs and realities of the communities it serves. 

The result is a youth-informed platform that not only connects young people to opportunities, but reflects their ideas, feedback, and leadership from the start. 

What Youth Are Saying:  

Musa  

“I appreciate being part of this process from the beginning. My friends and I are part of a bigger movement to create employment opportunities for our peers within King County.”  

 Keilani 

“Being part of designing this app made me feel heard, like young people finally have a seat at the table.”