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Using data collected throughout the implementation of the Youth CareerConnect (YCC) grant, the final report describes how grantees recruited employer partners and maintained employer and workforce agency partnerships; the services and activities partners provided; and plans for sustaining partnerships after the grant ended. The report draws on a mix of quantitative and qualitative data from three sources that bring together information at different time points. Appendix B provides details on each of these data collection efforts relevant to this report.

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Key Takeaways

• Employer partnerships grew stronger over the course of the grant and were supported by dedicated YCC staff.
• Employer partners advised on program planning and curriculum, and supported increases in internships and mentoring over time.
• YCC staff faced several challenges to providing work experiences and mentoring.
• Workforce agency involvement was uneven across grantees, but these agencies provided program planning support and direct student services at some YCC grantees.
• Schools planned to maintain employer partnerships and the YCC services that employer and workforce agency partners provided.

Research Gaps

• "YCC grantees’ experiences suggest five key practices for high schools to develop and maintain partnerships with employers and workforce agencies. (1) Establish a dedicated partner liaison to develop and maintain employer and workforce agency partnerships. (2) Regularly engage partners through advisory boards or other avenues for eliciting partner input, and by establishing clear roles for partners within the program. (3) Anticipate and problem-solve for barriers to internships and mentoring beyond recruiting enough employer partners. (4) Motivate employers with a pipeline of skilled workers. (5) Utilize workforce agency partners to identify local economic and labor market conditions, establish employer partnerships, and provide work readiness training and career counseling." (pages 33-34)

Citation

Dillon, E. (2019). Mathematica. Youth CareerConnect: Engaging Employers and Workforce Agency Partners. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.