FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2025
Press Contact
Dr. Gary Molloy
Office: (340) 773-1994 ext. 2105
www.vidol.gov
gary.molloy@dol.vi.gov
VIDOL Celebrates Strong Youth Participation in 2025 Summer Work Experience Program Ahead of Graduation Week
USVI — As families, students, and schools across the U.S. Virgin Islands prepare to celebrate a week of Elementary and Middle/Junior High promotions and High School graduation ceremonies, the Virgin Islands Department of Labor (VIDOL) is pleased to announce the overwhelming public response to the 2025 Summer Youth Work Experience Program (SYWEP).
Online applications for this year’s program closed on April 11, 2025, with an impressive 1,240 submissions received across VIDOL’s Youth & Apprenticeship summer initiatives:
- 76 applications for the Labor Investing for Tomorrow (LIFT) Internship Program
- 921 applications for the 5-week Paid Work Experience (ages 16–25)
- 243 applications for Career Exploration (ages 14–15)
Commissioner Dr. Gary Molloy shared his excitement at the strong youth interest, stating, “The Summer Work Experience Program is not only a rite of passage for our students, but also a vital bridge to real-world experience, mentorship, and economic opportunity. We are deeply proud of the overwhelming interest and remain committed to creating pathways for our youth to thrive.”
Currently, VIDOL is finalizing placement decisions, with an anticipated 75%–80% of applicants expected to participate, translating to nearly 800 young people gaining valuable work experience this summer. The department has already processed over 100 per diem records to ensure timely onboarding of selected participants.
Commissioner Molloy also emphasized the broader vision of the program as a launchpad for long-term workforce development, noting that this summer’s initiative complements the Bryan/Roach Administration’s Youth Initiative with ongoing investment in youth apprenticeships, GVI Fellows internship program, and industry-led career pipelines.
“We are seeing our young people take initiative and invest in their futures and it’s our responsibility to meet their ambition with meaningful opportunities,” said Molloy. “We extend our deepest appreciation to our public, private, and non-profit partners whose placement opportunities and cost-sharing support enables us to expand access to these life-changing experiences.”
VIDOL encourages all selected participants to verify that their employment and identification documents are up to date to ensure a smooth placement process before the program begins the week of June 2, 2025.
For more information, please contact VIDOL 340-773-1994 ext. 2115, 2132, or 2205 (St. Croix) 340-776-3700 ext. 2030, 2044, 2008 or 2059 (St. Thomas) or 340-693-4367 (St. John). You can also visit www.vidol.gov/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/USVIDOL for updates.