Young people tell us that what happens in life influences work and what happens at work influences life. Amidst a global pandemic and an unfolding economic crisis, this and other insights from young people offer employers and the youth-supporting sector a unique glimpse into what young people need in order to feel ready for, connected to, and supported within the world of work.

A new report from the YES Project and the Center for Promise at America’s Promise Alliance features the perspectives of 65 young people participating in career pathways programs around the country. The findings presented in Finding a Way Forward: Young People’s Experiences Navigating the World of Work reflect insights from groups often excluded from policy conversations: youth of color, those whose families have immigrated to the United States in search of new opportunities, and those from economically disadvantaged and working-class backgrounds.

Below are key findings from the study:

Young people have a holistic view of readiness that includes what they’ve learned, what they can do, knowing who they are, and adapting to change.
 
Young people recognize the importance of connections and social capital for navigating their career journeys—but often struggle to build them.
Young people’s work and life are not siloed from one another, but are deeply intertwined; they require a multi-dimensional, whole-person approach to support.

The young people who contributed to this research show that they are hard-working, thoughtful, intelligent, strategic, compassionate, resilient, values-driven, and motivated—positive attributes that the discourse on youth employment often leaves out. By elevating young people’s perspectives, Finding a Way Forward aims to expand understanding of the most important components of early career development in ways that can inform youth-centered research, policy, and practice.

READ THE REPORT

If you haven’t already, you can register for today’s webinar conversation with staff and youth leaders from three of the programs involved in the study, during which we will dive more deeply into what youth employment looks like during this unprecedented year and beyond.

Finding a Way Forward is grounded in the key components of the YES Project’s Ready, Connected, Supported framework—a collectively-developed vision that pinpoints what young people need to succeed in the workplace.

EXPLORE THE FRAMEWORK

America's Promise Alliance - Making the promise of America real for every child

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