This report from Brookings and Child Trends examines the quality of jobs held by young people who experienced disadvantages in adolescence and identifies factors that are associated with higher job-quality for this population. These factors include work-based learning incorporating positive relationships with adults, earlier experiences in the labor market, and educational credentials and training.
A useful resource for stakeholders interested in improving the employment prospects of young people who grew up in disadvantaged households, the report outlines four recommendations:
- Expand work-based learning within high school Career Technical Education (CTE);
- Increase completion rates of postsecondary degrees, with an explicit focus on quality and equity;
- Improve on-ramps to employment for teens and young adults; and
- Promote further research and action on the role of positive relationships in employment and training programs for youth and young adults.
