8,000 applicants, 2,000 jobs: The summer employment dilemma facing Prince George’s County

For years, Six Flags America in Bowie served as the backbone of Prince George’s County’s Summer Youth Enrichment Program, which offers teens and young adults employment opportunities. But the park’s closure has left a crater in the local job market.

This summer, the first without the amusement park’s massive hiring power, the program can place only 2,000 of its nearly 8,000 applicants, a steep drop from the 6,811 youth employed just two years ago. Against a backdrop of federal job cuts and rising unemployment, county officials are scrambling to fill the gap.

Although County Executive Aisha Braveboy touts the long-term economic promise of developments such as the Sphere and the 500-acre Six Flags parcel, the immediate reality for young job seekers is far more precarious. For the parents, teens and college students who rely on the jobs program, this summer holds a lot of uncertainty, which may force them to trade a paycheck for unpaid volunteer roles or costly summer camps just to keep busy.

“There is a lot of uncertainty in the economy, which is inhibiting firms from hiring workers,” said Daraius Irani, vice president for the Division of Business & Public Engagement at Towson University and chief economist for the Regional Economic Studies Institute.

Maryland, Irani said, is in the bottom third of employment growth.

High demand

The Summer Youth Enrichment Program’s candidates are selected based on a random lottery, with those not selected placed on a waitlist. The program offers more than a paycheck. The young people it employs gain experience in agencies such as the health department, along with other nonprofits, faith-based organizations and private businesses.

Demand is always high. In 2022, the program employed more than 6,000 young people, with 33% of participants stationed at Six Flags. The amusement park was the program’s most prolific business partner through 2024.

In 2024, the county extended the program’s age eligibility from 22- to 24-year-olds and placed 6,881 people in jobs.

Although the 2025 annual report has yet to be released, the approved 2026 budget estimated 6,665 participants.

Representatives of the county’s Office of Talent Management, which manages the youth employment program, did not respond to requests for 2025 and 2026 applicant data or information regarding new business partners in the wake of Six Flags’ closure.

The program’s budget can’t meet demand for it, Braveboy said.

“I am very committed to these young people, Braveboy told The Banner. “We have reached out to a number of our vendors, as well as county-based businesses and utilities, to see if we can help work with them to expand the programs.”

Nearby, Baltimore allocated funds to employ more than 8,000 young people through its YouthWorks summer program, and Washington’s Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Program is planning for more than 10,000 participants this summer.

Braveboy said she recognizes that there are fewer employment opportunities for young people, especially beyond the summer. She noted retail jobs at malls are now more competitive.

“We have less and less of those opportunities,” Braveboy said. “And, because of the economy, some individuals who are older are working jobs that maybe our younger population used to work.”

The county executive said her office is reaching out to the school system to determine whether it can provide additional summer activities and noted the county offers many summer camps.

The full scope of the jobs program’s offerings will be finalized in about a month, Braveboy said.

Working connections

This challenging labor market is forcing job seekers, including those in college or new graduates, to be more strategic and apply earlier, said Jared Moffett, executive director of career and experiential education at Bowie State University.

“The summer job market for college students is still active, but it’s more competitive than in recent years,” Moffett said.

Moffett’s center connects students to internships, service learning and employers. He advises job seekers to contact organizations they are interested in because internships and career-aligned roles are filled through connections rather than postings.

“This is a highly educated, highly competitive part of the United States, and now it’s been flooded with federal workers, as well, looking for jobs,” Moffett said.

Tinselyn Simms and Victorious Hall’s son, King, is a senior headed to Morgan State University this fall. He had trouble finding a job in the county.

“Initially, he worked for us,” said Simms, whose family owned two smoothie shops that are now shuttered. “But later, when he started looking, it was just a bit of a struggle.”

Simms said she was confused and frustrated by the lack of transparency in the county’s summer jobs program. She said she knows many people who have applied but only one young person who has found work through the program.

King eventually landed a job with the help of a friend. For him, a job isn’t a lifeline but a way to make pocket cash and gain work experience. Simms said she knows that isn’t the case for many young people.

“There are many kids who actually need that money to help make a difference in their families,” Simms said. “And it’s unfortunate that those are oftentimes the kids who have the least access to connections and folks who can get them into that kind of employment.”

Kelly Davidson has been proactive about making sure her son Acem Ajahni’s summers have been filled with sports and academic enrichment. The rising high school senior has taken advantage of the county’s summer camps and teen activities.

“He has participated in the county teen nights they used to have on Friday nights,” Davidson said. “He did that for many years, but you sort of age out, as there are not a lot of kids his age at 17.”

The county’s weeklong camps for kids ages 4-17 are moderately priced compared to private summer camps, and they tend to fill up quickly.

But his parents want him to be prepared for the workforce, so they encouraged him to apply for the summer jobs program. He has not heard whether he’ll be among the placements.

“There’s two things we want to see him do well before he leaves,” Davidson said, “driving and working.”