It is a sign that the start of another school year is not far off. Manitoba Youth Job Centres in Steinbach, Niverville and St.Pierre will be closing Friday, August 19.

Annetta Fruehauf is Youth Engagement Leader for Steinbach. She says it has been a busy summer with a lot of youth registering with the centre.

"You can really tell that a lot of students and youth are pretty eager to find some sort of summer employment and are willing to work," notes Fruehauf. "So that's been positive."

Fruehauf calls it a successful summer for job postings, with most of them being filled.

Highlights have included several Odd Job Squad events. These are designed for youth aged 12 to 16, allowing them to gain work experience. This year's Odd Job Squad events include such things as strawberry picking, a barbeque and freezie sale.

According to Fruehauf, some of the more common job postings this year include cashier positions, yard and garden work.

In addition to lining up youth with jobs, the centre also acts as a resource for those needing help with their resume or even job interview preparation. She says a common area where youth need help is in social and customer service skills. Fruehauf notes many youth find it difficult at first to interact with the public during Odd Job Squad events. But by the end of the day, they are already quite a bit more confident.

For those still wishing to place a job order, that can be done until Friday. Fruehauf expects the centre to re-open mid-May.