Youth unemployment is consistently higher than that of the rest of the working population, and the COVID pandemic and resultant economic downturn has further exacerbated that disparity. On top of employment disparities, young people are also more likely to work in jobs and industries that provide few benefits, low wages, and minimal support, which deeply affects their personal and professional wellbeing and success.
The YES Project’s youth-centered research seeks to provide critical context around these numbers to allow the field to better understand how young people are experiencing and perceiving the world of work. As the nation grapples with economic recovery, addressing systemic oppression, and the changing nature of work, it is crucial to understand the experiences, needs, and goals of young people to ensure that decisions made on young people’s behalf are made based on their own perspectives.
The State of Youth Employment: Navigating the World of Work During COVID-19
Check out results from our latest quantitative study, exploring how young people are navigating the world of work during this challenging time, how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped their work experiences, the role of racism and discrimination in young people’s career trajectories, and more.
Infographic: The Research Case for Prioritizing Young People in Economic Recovery
(Click to enlarge and download)
Research paints an urgent picture: Congress must act to support young people in COVID-19 recovery efforts. This infographic outlines key findings from our and others' latest research on the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant economic fallout on young people's work trajectories. It also includes specific policy opportunities to center young people in recovery efforts.
Finding A Way Forward: Young People's Experiences Navigating the World of Work
This qualitative study explores specific questions about work and careers from the perspectives of 65 young adult participants in five career pathways programs across the country. Grounded in the key components of the YES Project's Ready, Connected, Supported framework, this report provides a glimpse into young people’s perceptions of their career journeys amidst today’s changing employment landscape—specifically those young people who represent groups often excluded from policy conversations: young people 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. By elevating young people’s perspectives, this report aims to expand understanding of the most important components of early career development in ways that can inform youth-centered research, policy, and practice.
Ready, Connected, Supported: A Framework for Youth Workforce Development
Ready, Connected, Supported: A Framework for Youth Workforce Development is a collectively-developed vision that pinpoints what young people need to succeed in the workplace. This framework represents a shared approach from which everyone—including employers, public officials, community leaders, and young people themselves—can drive action toward increased opportunities for workplace success and development for young people.
CONTACT
For more information, please contact the Center for Promise at [email protected].
SPONSORS
This research was generously supported through a grant from State Farm.®
