There are 6.7 million opportunity youth in the United States—young people aged 16 to 24 who are neither in school nor working. How can we help these youth get back into the education and employment pipeline?
To help answer this question, the American Youth Policy Forum has conducted a review of two states, Michigan and Connecticut, that are developing pathways to postsecondary education for these individuals. Of the best practices AYPF has identified, one of the most important is providing both education and workforce opportunities through industry-recognized training programs.
Further research on this topic from MDRC emphasizes that programs for opportunity youth need to be demand driven, closely aligned to industry needs to ensure that participants are being prepared for jobs that exist while not displacing other workers.
This employer-side of the equation is the focus of a U.S. Chamber of Commerce publication on how companies are developing pathways to bring young talent into the pipeline through two strategies:
- creating specific internal programs, including collaborating with education institutions for work-based learning and customized training
- partnering with strategic nonprofits and external organizations
These elements—technical training, work-based learning and industry partnerships—are critical not just for opportunity youth, but for all youth and adults looking to prepare for further education and the workplace.
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