METRO NORTH REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT BOARD QUARTERLY MEETING – SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

THE CHALLENGES POSED BY

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

P OT E N

T I AL S T R A T E G

I E S AN

D S O

L UT I O

NS

MEETING GOALS

• Identify new/additional approaches to the problem of youth unemployment that can be implemented in Metro North

• Identify new/additional strategies for linking youth to priority industries/STEM occupations (linking to strategic plan goals)

• In-School Youth Youth in high school

Out-of-School Youth Youth in alternative education programs, e.g., GED

programs planning to enter post-secondary education/training or employment

• Disconnected Youth Youth with barriers to education or employment, e.g.,

DYS-involved, homeless, DCF-involved, etc.

WHICH YOUTH?

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT Lack of job openings or job openings are filled by adults and

older workers Barriers to work

Stricter application requirements, e.g., > 18 years old, CORIs, work authorization

On-line applications Transportation to scarce jobs Work hours for youth who are in school

Lack of experience; employer hiring criteria Lack of work readiness skills/job search skills Lack of basic education skills, e.g., reading, writing, math,

English Lack of exposure to job/career options; lack of knowledge of

current labor market Lack of occupational skills

METRO NORTH YOUTH CHARACTERISTICS

Total Population in Metro North: 761,431

Total Labor Force in Metro North: 424,262

Total 2012 Metro North Employment: 401,621

Total Metro North Youth Ages 16 – 21: 55,814

Total Metro North Youth Employed (26% est): 14,512

Total Economically Disadvantaged Youth: 10,030

YOUTHWORKSGoals: Provide subsidized employment and work readiness training to youth (low-

income, age 14-21, youth with barriers to employment) in targeted cities

Summer: Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Revere, and Somerville # Placed: 629

Year-Round: Cambridge, Chelsea, Malden, Revere and Somerville# Placed: 70 (estimated)

Outcomes: Subsidized Employment, Work Readiness, Career Exposure

Challenges:

• Meaningful employment opportunities (currently primarily public sector)

• Identifying opportunities for youth with multiple barriers to employment, e.g., DYS-connected, youth with disabilities

CONNECTING ACTIVITIESGoals: 1) Place youth in unsubsidized jobs, with emphasis on priority

industries2) Introduce youth to work through workshops, speakers and job

shadows

# Placed: 100 youth from six high schoolsSchools: Chelsea, Everett, Revere, Malden, Somerville and Woburn

Services: 1) Coaches at schools outreach to youth, handle school logistics

2) Career center staff connect youth to specific internships/jobs , deliver workshops, develop Work-Based Learning Plans, assist with resume development, arrange tours and job shadows

Outcomes:Contribute to long-term success (academic and career) through early introduction to the employment worldChallenges:•Employer participation and involvement, especially in priority industries•Employers hiring only age 18+

In-School Youth:

Goals: Drop-out Prevention, Transition to Post-Secondary Education or Employment

# Served: 63

Providers:Bay CoveCambridge Housing AuthorityJust-a-StartMalden YWCAWoburn Housing AuthorityMystic Learning Center

Out of School Youth:

Goals: GED Attainment, Transition to Post-Secondary Education or Employment

# Served: 101

Providers:American Training (LARE) - 3 ProgramsMystic Learning CenterJust-a-StartWakefield Public Schools

WIA YOUTH (LOW-INCOME; BARRIER)

WIA YOUTH (CONTINUED)Providers:• Education• Career exploration/exposure or occupational training (in some cases)• Work experience (summer jobs—primarily for in-school youth)• Mentoring• Counseling/case management/job search (shared with career center)

Career Center Services:• Intake, eligibility/assessment, pre- and post-testing• Counseling, case management , job search (shared with provider)• Orientation/tour of career center • Information sessions on priority industries (healthcare and STEM)• Tailored services (selected workshops) focused on work readiness

Challenges:•Student engagement; attendance at program•Financial and family issues•Employer engagement (for summer youth and other work experience)

WIA YOUTH TRANSITION SERVICES

Goal: Successfully outreach to disconnected youth in the community and connect them to WIA services or employment opportunities

# Served: 700; average of 3.9 visits each

Services: Career centers provide a variety of workshops at non-profits and other community-based organizations and alternative schools and refer interested youth to further services

Challenges:

•Gaining and maintaining youth commitment to participate•Assisting youth in envisioning potential futures

AMP IT UP!Goals:

• Introduce youth enrolled in GED programs to opportunities in manufacturing through hands-on exposure

• Create a new, accurate image of what it means to work in manufacturing; present it as a positive career choice

Activities:

•Conducted four orientations (about 50 youth)•Provided two hands-on workshops (about 10 youth total)• Currently preparing online materials/resource to introduce youth and adults to the

opportunities in the manufacturing sector

Challenges:

• Finding an effective way to encourage youth and adults to consider careers in a complex array of manufacturing environments

OTHER YOUTH ACTIVITIES

MCAS Pathways (The Career Place): 40

MassGrad (The Career Place): 30

Total Youth Served by Career Centers FY’13: 1,741

YOUTH COUNCILGoals:

•Coordinate a broad array of youth services in the region

• Convene youth-servicing representatives bi-monthly to support on-going youth activities provided by the REB and career centers

• Review and recommend proposals for WIA funding

• Sponsor events, e.g., STEM events.

Participation: Membership includes representatives from youth vendors, employers, REB members, local government, and nonprofits.

Challenge:

•Employer engagement/participation

DISCUSSION: HOW CAN WE BEST ADDRESS: Lack of job openings – Are there ways to create new ones?

Lack of experience – Are there alternative methods to meet experience requirements?

Lack of work readiness skills/job search skills – Are there methods that might be more palatable to youth/more effective?

Lack of exposure to job/career options; lack of knowledge of current labor market – How can we maximize exposure to possible careers?

Lack of basic education skills – Are there better methods than the traditional classroom?

Lack of occupational skills – How can we provide this with limited funding available?

Barriers to work (age, CORIs, transportation, work hours, online access)

How can we link these strategies to, or embed them in, our priority industries/STEM occupations?