New bipartisan legislation to tackle the chronic youth workforce shortage and better prepare students for good-paying jobs in high-demand careers was announced earlier this month.
Offering the legislation in Washington were Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
In 2022, more than 10 percent of young adults in California aged 16-24 were not in school, working or looking for a job. At the same time, three out of four high school grads say they don’t feel prepared to make major life decisions. Harder’s Youth Workforce Readiness Act aims to tackle this challenge head on by investing in after-school career training programs to meet students where they are and help them gain the skills they need for life-long career success.
“I can’t think of a better investment in our community than setting our kids up for success,” said Rep. Harder. “Making sure the next generation is well-prepared for the future goes hand-in-hand with filling good-paying jobs here in the Valley. Education is the key to opportunity, and these programs ensure our kids have the skills and experience needed to thrive.”
“Investing in career development, education, and hands-on skills is key to setting our next generation up for long-term success,” added Rep. Fitzpatrick. “I am honored to partner with my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, which will provide vital grants to national youth-serving organizations, including Bucks and Montgomery (Pennsylvania) counties, to support after-school workforce readiness programs. The Youth Workforce Readiness Act will equip our youth with the tools and mentorship they need to not only secure a job but to build a meaningful career.”
Youth readiness programs work – students who participate in these programs are more likely to find good-paying jobs and stay employed. The Youth Workforce Readiness Act achieves this by:
Providing $100 million per year for youth workforce training programs.
Prioritizing funding for low-income and underserved students.
Building and maintaining community partnerships that offer real-world job training.
