Youth Workforce & Training

POLICY BRIEF

(pdf)
Youth Workforce & Training Position Paper (pdf)

RESOURCES

Implementation of Senate Bill 586: Connecting Opportunity Youth to the Workforce
The Youth Development Council is pleased to release the report This report was written in response to SB 586, which expanded the YDC’s upper age limit from 20 through age 24. This bill brought the YDC’s target population of Opportunity Youth – 16-24 year olds not connected to school or work – into alignment with the national effort to reengage and support these young people.

The YDC has developed recommendations for how to better serve Opportunity Youth by addressing the unique challenges these youth face, and taking innovative and effective approaches to preparing them for career success. The report provides an overview of what the YDC heard from communities across Oregon during a months-long community engagement effort to learn about their needs, challenges, successes and vision for connecting young people to the workforce. The report also gives a summary of current state, federal and tribal workforce development programs serving youth, as well as YDC Community Investments with a workforce focus. Most importantly, the report offers recommendations for preparing Opportunity Youth for career success. These recommendations align with existing services and systems, while leveraging the YDC’s unique community-based, equity-focused and innovation-friendly approach to community investment.

Source: Multnomah County Website, 2.10.16

Job Corps is a no-cost education and vocational training program administered by the U.S Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through vocational and academic training.

At YouthBuild programs in the United States and across the globe, low-income young people learn construction skills to help build affordable housing and other community assets such as community centers and schools.

Zeroing In on Place and Race: Youth Disconnection in America’s Cities
An in-depth look at how disconnected youth are faring in America’s cities, with data included on disconnected youth by state, congressional district, county, gender, and by race and ethnicity.

The Opportunity Index is an annual composite measure at the state and county levels of economic, educational and civic factors that expand opportunity.

EcoNorthwest Opportunity Youth Report 2016An analysis of youth ages 16 to 24 in the Portland metropolitan region who are not in school and not currently employed, providing an overview of demographic, educational, and family characteristics, in order to help local stakeholders in targeting services and outreach to best support these individuals.

Endangered Youth in the Labor ForceAn analysis of youth unemployment and labor force participation in Oregon.

Building Skills Through Summer Jobs – Lessons from the Field
A paper from J.P. Morgan Chase addressing the youth employment crisis, the importance of summer work for youth, and outlining the corporation’s investments in summer youth employment programs across the country.

The Economics of Investing in Opportunity Youth
A report on the economic impact of Opportunity Youth, and the return on investment that may be gained from reengaging disconnected youth and young adults.

In This Together: The Hidden Cost of Young Adult Unemployment
Analysis of the federal and state tax revenue lost due to youth unemployment.

ROI & Cost Benefit Analysis
An analysis of the financial and social benefits to businesses hiring Opportunity Youth, including tools for assessing the return on investment for businesses considering hiring youth.

Key “Soft Sills” that Foster Youth Workforce Success: Toward a Consensus
A thorough review of the research-based set of key soft skills that increase the chance that youth ages 15-29 will be successful in the workforce.

An informational resource on Entrepreneurship Education from the U.S. Department of Labor.

An overview of the skills necessary for youth to thrive in today’s digitally and globally interconnected world.