METRO NORTH REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT BOARD QUARTERLY MEETING – SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 THE CHALLENGES POSED BY YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS

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

YOUTHWORKS Goals: 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 ACTIVITIES Goals:1)Place youth in unsubsidized jobs, with emphasis on priority industries 2)Introduce youth to work through workshops, speakers and job shadows # Placed:100 youth from six high schools Schools: 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 world Challenges: 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 Cove Cambridge Housing Authority Just-a-Start Malden YWCA Woburn Housing Authority Mystic Learning Center Out of School Youth: Goals: GED Attainment, Transition to Post-Secondary Education or Employment # Served: 101 Providers: American Training (LARE) - 3 Programs Mystic Learning Center Just-a-Start Wakefield 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 COUNCIL Goals: 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?