ComEd, Partners Announce the Return of Summer Job Training for Teens

ComEd today joined workforce partners the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago in announcing the return of the CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Youth Academy, a paid summer career exposure program for high school students interested in careers in the construction and energy fields. The CONSTRUCT Youth Academy is back this summer for a third time across the Chicagoland area, with classes set to begin in both June and July. As the school year comes to a close, ComEd is encouraging interested students to apply now through YMCA or Goodwill.

With as many as 150,000 jobs coming to Illinois by 2050 to support the clean energy transition, the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy is one way ComEd is offering opportunities for local youth to prepare for roles in the fast-growing clean energy sector.

“ComEd and our partners are committed to ensuring that our youth are aware of the wide variety of in demand and good-paying careers in the energy sector that deliver reliable power to more than 9 million people across northern Illinois,” said Melissa Washington, SVP of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives. “It is through youth-centered programs, like the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy, that we are reaching our future workforce and expanding a skilled and diverse talent pool that will be key to delivering a cleaner and brighter future for our communities.”

During the three-week program, teens learn about the wide range of careers in energy, from entry-level craft positions to roles in STEM, such as engineering and more. Students study key equipment used to manage the power grid, learn about drones and EVs, and even meet with company leaders. Participants also learn how to safely use hand tools and put their newfound construction skills to the test by building dressers for underserved communities. In addition, past program graduates have the opportunity to return as Junior Mentors for the new incoming program cohorts.

New to the program, ComEd offered graduates of last year’s class, who are now seniors, a CONSTRUCT Youth Academy Spring Break session in which they dove into a career readiness curriculum involving a pole-climbing clinic and test preparation for the industry-required Construction and Skilled Trades (CAST) exam. This extension of the program will continue to be offered for future graduates, allowing participants interested in the trades to prepare for entry-level roles and get a leg up on their career search upon high school graduation.