FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2024
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
Young Invincibles Releases Workforce Report with Policy Recommendations Informed by Young Adult Workers
(Washington, DC) – Today, Young Invincibles released Voices from Young Adult Workers: Policy Recommendations Informed by Labor Market Experiences, a report that focuses on young adults’ perspective of the job market with an emphasis on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Registered Apprenticeship System.
Voices from Young Adult Workers: Policy Recommendations Informed by Labor Market Experiences is the culmination of a qualitative research project exploring young adults’ experiences in the labor market and includes insights drawn from five focus groups with participants from diverse racial, educational, and economic backgrounds, along with interviews with community colleges and key stakeholders. The report outlines seven crucial policy recommendations to better address the labor market barriers facing young adults.
The labor market is constantly evolving due to technological advancements and artificial intelligence; however, the workforce has not adapted to meet workers’ needs, forcing them to upskill. As a result, credential inflation has surged, with entry-level jobs now demanding more experience or education than ever before. To ensure that workers, especially young adults, can succeed and receive necessary support, immediate policy intervention is essential. Such policies should help young adults build stackable credentials, gain career experience and exposure earlier, and remain adaptable in a rapidly changing labor market.
In response, Alex Lundrigan, report author and Higher Education and Workforce Policy and Advocacy Manager at Young Invincibles said:
“Young adult workers face an labor market riddled with barriers they can’t overcome without intervention. As the future of our workforce and our economy, young adults should be met with opportunities to succeed, yet instead, they face credential inflation, wage inequities, anti-union practices, and uneven pathways to economic security.
We must urgently invest in the young adult workforce through grants, impactful legislation, and reforms that create strong foundations for economic opportunity–especially those from historically underrepresented communities. Young Invincibles is excited to share this report and further our commitment to young adults, ensuring that policies accurately reflect the needs of those directly impacted.”
In response, Margarita Arango, young adult worker said:
“Young adults in the workforce are eager to learn, excited to be involved, and ambitious, but we’re often underestimated and exploited. I’ve experienced it firsthand- from being paid less than my coworkers in a fast-food restaurant to taking an unpaid internship. Finding programs for young adults is difficult; it’s even harder to find one that pays what our labor is worth. Unpaid internships or other professional development programs are inequitable because they are only accessible to those who can afford to go without pay. To diversify and uplift our young workforce, we must increase access to professional development and training programs for all young adults.”
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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