As teenagers have settled into a new school year, many are able to embrace this challenge with confidence and pride thanks to skills gained and relationships built through their summer work experiences and internships. But the beginning of the school year should not mean the end of our efforts toward youth workforce development.
Unlocking a young person’s potential requires intention, guidance, and a career pathway that reflects their unique strengths, interests, and aspirations. At Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN), we believe that building tailored career pathways is not just an educational strategy, but an economic and civic imperative that requires sustainable support and year-round resources.
For many of Philadelphia’s young people, the journey from classroom to career feels disconnected and uncertain. Barriers to youth employment in Philadelphia generally include both a lack of access to information and to a broad network; a lack of opportunities for their age range; and a lack of skills and experience.
This matters because according to the 2021 Future of Learning Research Survey, 89 percent of employers are more likely to hire high school graduates if the students have real-world skills. And research shows that youth with at least one work experience before graduation have stronger lifetime earnings. Given this reality, the importance of tailoring a young person’s career pathway cannot be overstated. Our guiding light should be to ensure that they see that the possibilities for their futures can go well beyond what they may have imagined — and that those possibilities are within their grasp.
Our collective responsibility requires investing in a continuum of youth workforce programs that prepare young people for a career with economic mobility — not just a paycheck. This means putting them on a career path with higher paying jobs that can change their economic wellbeing (savings, financial assets) and that of their families.
This goal for upward economic mobility is one of the main reasons PYN now focuses on year-round, direct service programming that spans from career awareness to advancement, and matches youth to careers that align with their interests and strengths.
We equip them with skills so they can adapt in an ever-changing economy, build confidence in their ability to lead, and foster a sense of belonging in Philadelphia’s workforce. Investing in the careers of our young people also equips our local economy with the skilled, diverse workforce it needs to thrive.
This experience allows employers to be part of the youth workforce solution — by offering employment opportunities and providing mentorship to youth as they explore career options. It also allows them to have a role in training the next generation to enter the workforce. By partnering with PYN on these programs, employers can ultimately hire young people with appropriate skill sets to immediately contribute to their teams.
No single entity will solve the problem. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently invested nearly $2.4 million to prepare high school students for employment through pre-apprenticeship programs, classroom teachings, and job shadowing. This is exactly the kind of leadership we need, and we also need to do the work on the ground level.
We see this year-round model of tailored career pathways working in places such as Boston and Connecticut. As in those cities, creating opportunities is a community-wide effort, and each one of us has a role to play. Anyone can help our city’s young people showcase their potential. Consider volunteering to mentor a young person on skills like résumé writing and interviewing. For employers: Commit to hosting year-round internships. This investment is a win-win as it provides valuable experience for youth and creates a talent pipeline.
We know it can happen here. We see a future where every young person in Philadelphia is not just employed, but positioned to own their future. Join us in investing in our youth and building the pathways to make this a reality. We can’t do it alone.
Wendy-Anne Roberts-Johnson is President and CEO of Philadelphia Youth Network.
The Citizen welcomes guest commentary from community members who represent that it is their own work and their own opinion based on true facts that they know firsthand.
MORE ON UPLIFTING AND SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH
