Youth Employment
Nearly all young people—96.9 percent—hold at least one job between the ages of 18 and 22 (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010). Some work part-time or summers only, while others see full-time permanent employment as their path to economic independence. Employment can be beneficial for youth by teaching responsibility, organization, and time management and helping to establish good work habits, experience, and financial stability (Child Trends, 2010). Knowing how to find and keep a job is not only critical for admission to the adult world, but is an important survival skill for which there is little in the way of formal, structured preparation.
Child Trends. (2010). Youth employment. Retrieved from http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/?q=node/373
U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2010). America’s youth at 22: School enrollment, training, and employment transitions between ages 21 and 22 [News release]. USDL-10-0099. Retrieved from http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/archives/nlsyth_01282010.pdf (pdf, 11 pages)
Add Us In
Add Us In is a new initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The initiative is designed to increase the ability of companies to employ both adults and youth with disabilities, particularly businesses owned and operated by African-Americans; Asian-Americans; Latino or Hispanic Americans; members of federally recognized tribes and Native Americans; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals; and women.
Developing Programs for Youth in Allied Health Careers
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at the Department of Labor (DOL) is making considerable investments in projects that focus on preparing participants for employment in the health care sector. The release of the Allied Health Access (AHA) Guidebook: How to Develop Programs for Youth in Allied Health Careers is one such example.
The Youth Career Café - Empowering Youth to Succeed in the Real World
The Department of Labor funds youth training and employment programs under the Workforce Investment Act; funds are provided to states and then to local areas to deliver services. The Youth Career Café is one approach a local workforce area has taken to help young people connect with the world of work.
The CITY Project
Using a broad-based community collaboration approach, the CITY Project is working in Broome County and New York City to empower at-risk youth to become community change agents.
Pilot Project Helps YouthBuild Address Youth Substance Abuse
One of the biggest challenges at most YouthBuild employment and training programs funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is how to identify and address alcohol and drug use among students. Substance abuse is one of the main reasons for youth dropping out of the training program and it interferes with a young person's ability to obtain employment after completing training.
A Hand and Paw Partnership Benefits Homeless Youth
Dogs, and people, learn new tricks at the Virginia Woof Dog Daycare Center, a social service agency that serves homeless youth and low-income adults.
Supporting Summer Youth Employment Programs
Summer youth employment programs are a popular strategy in many communities to ensure that youth gain valuable workforce experience and have a safe, productive way to spend their time. These programs provide subsidized wages for youth who work at selected employers during the summer, and often include job readiness training and other supports for youth who participate.
Employment experiences for youth between 16 and 24
Qualifications and attributes critical to employers
Career exploration and skill development
Federal programs that support transitioning to employment
Rules and regulations for youth employment
Watch more videos on Youth Employment and Training on our Youtube Channel
Explore FindYouthInfo's Federal Links database to identify federal programs and resources related to Youth Employment.
Map My Community is a tool designed specifically to assist you in locating resources in your community to help you build and strengthen your youth program. Get ideas for new partnerships, identify gaps in your community, and learn about resources to avoid duplication of effort.
