Connecting Opportunity Youth and Employers Through Work Based Learning

The YouthBuild program model connects opportunity youth to meaningful employment by integrating education and training in construction and other career pathways, leadership development, and supportive services. This white paper describes the importance of WBL by highlighting best practices learned from YouthBuild program sites that participated in the High-Demand Career Pathways Program, an initiative supported by the Citi Foundation. In addition, this White Paper defines the elements and continuum of WBL with a focus on the strategies, practices, and partnerships that programs developed. The white paper highlights the following key points:

• Opportunity youth, 21st century skills, and their role in the YouthBuild model
• Work-based learning definitions, key elements, continuum, and common components
• Promising strategies, common standards, and recommendations from YouthBuild programs to establish effective work-based learning opportunities
• Benefits seen from work-based learning experiences

As a product of developing this White Paper, the authors found how the YouthBuild program was beneficial for all participating parties by identifying the following outcomes by specific cohort:

Benefits for Young Adults

• Build valuable skills
• Social networking and social capital-building opportunities
• Higher wages
• Build positive work history
• Gain exposure to the world of work
• Provide a practical application for classroom learning
• Increase student/employee motivation
• Earn industry-recognized training and certifications

Benefits for Youth Intermediaries

• Improve student outcomes, placement, and retention rates
• Increase graduation rates
• Advocacy for school and program
• Validate program success
• Enhance curriculum
• Increase student motivation
• Broaden industry contacts for resources on committees, organizations, initiatives, or fundraising

Benefits for Employers

• Shape the next generation of skilled workers
• Meet immediate industry needs
• Opportunity to develop and utilize industry partnership
• Engage with and influence education system to meet industry needs
• Broaden talent pool
• Lower recruitment costs
• Build community engagement
• Develop a more diverse workforce

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2020
• Author(s): J-D. Garcia, J. Willis, F. Viazzoli, M. Petraglia, & C. Be
• Funding Source: Citigroup Foundation
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Wesley Peterson
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies