The federal government sponsors programs providing job opportunities for young workers. These programs give youth access to the resources and training needed to transition them into the workforce. Opportunities exist for youth from all walks of life. For example, some programs cater to at-risk teens, while others focus on common goals, such as community service.
The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, or NCCC, is a full-time program that focuses on strengthening communities and developing leaders. The program is open to those between the ages of 18 and 24. Since the NCCC is a residential program, participants need to live and work out of one of five different campuses. The campuses are located in Denver; Sacramento, California; Perry Point, Maryland; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Vinton, Iowa. During the program, participants work on team-based projects ranging from natural disaster relief to energy conservation. For their participation, workers receive a living allowance, along with other benefits such as medical and education awards.
Job Corps is considered the largest education and job training program in the United States for at-risk youth ages 16 to 24. A few other program qualifications include being a legal resident of the United States, meeting low-income criteria, facing employment barriers and not using illegal drugs. Participants in the program learn by completing four different phases. These periods include an outreach and admissions, career preparation, career development and career transition. In addition to career training, Job Corps also offers assistance to those who still need to earn a high school diploma or GED.
The YouthBuild program is offered by the U.S. Department of Labor. This program specifically targets at-risk, high school dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24 who are facing career challenges. In addition to helping participants earn their high school diploma or GED, the program also provides occupational skills training to help transition them into the workforce. Typical YouthBuild opportunities include building low-income housing, construction apprenticeships, leadership development, civic engagement and community development. As of 2012, YouthBuild offers 273 programs in 46 states, Washington, D.C. and the Virgin Islands.
The Pathways Program is a series of three programs offered by the Office of Personnel Management. Pathways is intended to streamline the student hiring process for government positions. The internship program is offered to students still in high school all the way to those attending college. This opportunity allows students to get paid for working at federal agencies while still pursuing their education. The recent graduates program is available to recent college graduates and offers participants opportunities working in civil service. The presidential management fellows program is a leadership development program catering to those with advanced degrees.
- U.S. Department of Labor: Resources for Young Students
- AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps NCCC for Individuals
- AmeriCorps: Frequently Asked Questions for Individuals
- Job Corps: Job Corps’ Eligibility Criteria
- Job Corps: How Job Corps Works
- Job Corps: Frequently Asked Questions
- U.S. Department of Labor: Employment & Training Administration -- All About YouthBuild
- YouthBuild U.S.A.: YouthBuild Programs
- U.S. Department of the Treasury: Pathways Programs
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Program Fact Sheets
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