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Young Invincibles Releases Brief on Importance of Short-Term Pell for Certificates and Credentials

Posted
Press Releases, Workforce & Finances, California, Colorado, Illinois, National, New York, Other states, Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2023
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org

Young Invincibles Releases Brief on Importance of Short-Term Pell for Certificates and Credentials

(Washington, DC) –  Today, Young Invincibles released Reimagining Federal Pell Grants: Reshaping the Talent Pipeline for Young Adults, examining how access to financial aid for short-term credentials could assist young adults aspiring to gain new skills or reskill for the workforce. 

In this brief, we find that providing the young adult workforce with access to career training or reskilling opportunities, specifically among young adults from historically marginalized communities, creates opportunity for them to enter new workforce sectors and gain economic mobility. Below are a few key figures and data on the national landscape:

  • Publicly available data from the American Community Survey, shows that young adults of all education levels are most frequently occupying jobs that do not require formal credentials (i.g. Cashiers, retail salespersons, customer service representatives, cooks, or laborers).
  • Average pay ($27,379) for young adults in these careers was significantly lower than the national median.
  • For young adults from historically marginalized communities, the percentage of their total labor force working these jobs was significantly higher than white young adult workers. 
  • Women of color occupied these jobs at the high percentages:
    • Black young adult women above 20%
    • Indigenous young adult women at 19%
    • Young adult women who identified with more than race at 20%

Congress has options to reverse the detrimental effects of inflation and stagnant wages disproportionately affecting historically marginalized communities. With bipartisan and bicameral support, one tangible solution is expanding the Federal Pell Grant program for certificate and credential readiness programs. Higher education and workforce leaders must make postsecondary education affordable and accessible for all students. This brief outlines detailed recommendations and next steps for implementing Short-Term Pell Grants and offering much needed economic-mobility for young adults.

In response, Alex Lundrigan, Workforce Development & Financial Policy Coordinator at Young Invincibles said: 

“Access to high-paying jobs and necessary resources to support young adult workers is essential, however it is not the reality. In truth, many young adults are working multiple jobs to stay afloat due to rising inflation and stagnant wages. More and more are seeking alternative paths for continuing education after high school, yet many of them do not have the ability to take advantage of these programs. Short-term credentials and certificate training lack federal student aid and are a benefit left to those who have the time and money to afford them.

Short-Term Pell Grants can be one important policy to invest in our workforce and provide unique opportunities for young adults to explore career options while bridging gaps in industries where skilled workers are limited. Any expansion of Federal Pell Grants must include quality guardrails, which are data-informed, designed with a racial equity lens to protect students and taxpayers. 

Short-Term Pell Grants will help remove barriers to those interested but burdened by the cost and let many young adults explore new careers or re-skill in an entirely new industry. Furthermore, alongside credit articulation agreements, this acts as an on-ramp back into higher education for young adults who never started or finished college. Access to affordable credentials, certificates, and postsecondary education is essential to the economic well-being of young adults, Short-Term Pell Grants can be an important way to expand educational opportunities for more students.”

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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org