DENVER -- The Goodwill job hunting is under way in Denver.

Young people between the ages of 14-24 are needed to fill 200 temporary positions in a variety of industries.

Goodwill is working with several employers in sectors such as health care and green energy to find paying jobs for up to 160 hours, or 4 weeks.

Finding any open job now is proving to be a difficult task, but it is especially challenging for young applicants who don't yet have any work history.

Meaghan Carabello of Goodwill Industries of Denver said that in April, the unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds was 21.5 percent; for 20- to 24-year-olds, the rate was 14.7 percent.

Orientation is in progress at East High School, where applicants can learn about office etiquette, proper dress and resume writing tips.

Goodwill is one of three contractors hiring a total of 600 people, splitting $750,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars distributed through the Denver Office of Economic Development, Division of Workforce Development.

Servicios De la Raza is also working to help young people find jobs, and has received more than 300 applicants for 140 jobs, which have now been filled. Some of the applicants are youth offenders and foster children.

Program coordinator Alfonso Suazo said some participants may only work for 10 days, so a waiting list is being compiled for any openings later in the summer.

The Denver Housing Authority also hired 300 people for clerical, food service and hotel industry positions paying $7.50 an hour, nearly a dollar better than the federal minimum age of $6.55.

Interested job seekers can contact Goodwill by e-mailing youthemployment@goodwilldenver.org or call 303-204-7112.