Youth Employment and Training Programs Authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Youth Employment and Training Programs Authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Updated July 6, 2022
Youth Employment and Training Programs Authorized by the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA,
 YouthBuild is a competitive grant program that provides
P.L. 113-128) is the primary federal statute centrally
work experience, skills training, and educational
focused on workforce development. It authorizes a group of
services to eligible youth, with a focus on the
programs to assist workers and employers in the labor
construction trades.
market, with an emphasis on individuals with barriers to
employment. This In Focus describes the three programs
WIOA Formula Grants and Youth
authorized in WIOA that target youth and are administered
Activities
by the Department of Labor (DOL).
WIOA Youth Activities is one of six core formula grant
programs in WIOA. States are required to develop a unified
Most of the youth-targeted programs in WIOA define
plan that describes how each of the core funding streams
eligible youth as persons ages 16 to 24 who demonstrate
will be coordinated to meet local workforce needs.
specified barriers to employment. Some individuals served
by these programs could be eligible for both the youth
Youth Activities funds may be used for out-of-school or in-
programs in WIOA as well as other WIOA programs that
school youth, though statute specifies that at least 75% of
serve the general adult population (ages 18+).
funds must be used for out-of-school youth. Out-of-school
youth are ages 16 to 24, are not attending any school, and
Table 1. Funding for Youth-Targeted Programs in the
meet additional criteria such as being a high school dropout
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
or low-income. In-school youth are ages 14 to 21; attending
(dol ars in thousands)
school; low-income; and meet additional criteria, such as
being deficient in basic skills, pregnant or parenting,
Youth
Youth-
homeless, or currently or formerly in foster care.
Fiscal Year
Activities
Job Corps
Build
DOL allots funds to state workforce agencies based on a
2018
$903,416
$1,749,555
$89,534
formula that accounts for a state’s relative share of
2019
903,416
1,718,655
89,534
specified unemployment indicators and counts of
economically disadvantaged youth. States may reserve up
2020
913,130
1,743,655
94,534
to 15% of the funding for specified statewide activities. The
2021
921,130
1,748,655
96,534
remaining funds are allocated to local workforce
development boards (WDBs) that administer the services,
2022
933,130
1,748,655
99,034
typically through a local partner such as a nonprofit
Source: DOL FY2023 Budget Summary Tables and CRS analysis of
organization or community college.
P.L. 117-103; funding levels include any supplemental appropriations.
Each local WDB must use Youth Activities funds to offer
The design and funding levels of the youth-targeted
14 program elements that include tutoring, study skills
programs in WIOA vary:
training, and other academic activities; alternative
secondary school services or dropout recovery services;
 WIOA Youth Activities are formula grants to states that
paid and unpaid work experiences (including summer
are incorporated into a coordinated planning process
employment opportunities, pre-apprenticeship programs,
with other workforce funding. Like other WIOA-
internships and job shadowing, and on-the-job training
authorized formula funds, the allowable uses for these
opportunities); supportive services; adult mentoring;
funds are somewhat broad and include both employment
follow-up services; and other specified activities. At least
activities (such as occupational skills training and work
20% of the funds allocated to the local WDB must be used
experience) as well as educational activities. Specific
to provide participating youth (whether they are in school
programming decisions are made by state and local
or not) with paid and unpaid work experiences that have
grantees and subgrantees.
academic and occupational education as a component.
 Job Corps supports a network of residential centers that
WIOA Youth grantees and subgrantees are subject to a
provide intensive services for participants. Centers
performance accountability system that considers
provide occupational training in a trade as well as
participants’ subsequent outcomes, including employment,
appropriate academic and social supports. Jobs Corps
enrollment in education, and earnings.
has the highest funding of the three youth-targeted
programs in WIOA.
In program year (PY) 2020 (July 2020-June 2021), about
123,000 participants received services under the program.
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Youth Employment and Training Programs Authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
In PY2019, about 137,000 participants received services
process. States have the option to develop a combined state
under the program.
plan that includes Job Corps.
Job Corps
Job Corps enrollment declined during the COVID-19
The Job Corps program supports a network of residential
pandemic and has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
centers throughout the country that, per statute, provide
In PY2021, Job Corps enrolled about 10,000 new
eligible youth with “intensive social, academic, career and
participants. In PY2018, the most recent year that was not
technical education, and service learning opportunities.”
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the program enrolled
Most youth participants reside at the centers.
about 50,000 new participants. For PY2022, the program
has established a goal of 48,000 new participants.
Job Corps participants must be ages 16 through 24, low-
income, and facing one or more of the following barriers to
Job Corps was initially established by the Economic
education and employment: (1) basic skills deficient; (2) a
Opportunity Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-452) and was most
school dropout; (3) homeless, a runaway, a foster child, or
recently reauthorized and amended by WIOA.
aged out of foster care; (4) a parent; or (5) an individual
who requires additional education, career and technical
YouthBuild
education or training, or workforce preparation skills to be
YouthBuild is a competitive grant program with the
able to obtain and retain employment that leads to
primary focus of enabling disadvantaged youth to obtain
economic self-sufficiency.
education, employment, and leadership skills. It focuses on
the construction trades, which supports the program’s
While at a Job Corps center, students receive
additional purpose of expanding the supply of permanent
comprehensive career development services, including
affordable housing for the homeless and improving the
academic instruction, career and technical training, and
quality of nonprofit and public facilities. DOL may also
work readiness preparation. The program also provides
approve requests from YouthBuild grantees to support
housing, meals, health care services, and other support
workforce development related to other in-demand industry
services.
sectors or occupations in addition to construction.
The career and technical training component of Job Corps
Individuals ages 16 through 24 are eligible for YouthBuild.
includes training in a specific trade. Nationwide, Job Corps
The program’s primary eligibility criteria target participants
supports training in approximately 100 trades, though each
who have dropped out of school and demonstrate other
center only provides training in a subset of these trades.
specified barriers to employment, including being low-
Commonly offered trades include office administration,
income. Up to 25% of participants may qualify under
carpentry (pre-apprentice), culinary arts, certified nursing
alternative criteria.
assistant, and welding.
YouthBuild programs must be structured so that (1) at least
Job Corps has an open-entry, open-exit design and
40% of participants’ time in the program is spent on work
instruction is individualized and self-paced. Participants
experience and skill development activities and (2) at least
enter programs when there are openings and graduate
50% of participants’ time is spent on education and related
throughout the year. Data on program exiters show that the
services, including counseling and leadership development.
average length of stay was between seven and eight months.
Statute specifies that work experience and skill training
In most cases, program participation may not exceed two
activities under YouthBuild shall be, to the maximum
years.
extent practicable, coordinated with pre-apprenticeship and
registered apprenticeship activities.
There are more than 100 Job Corps centers, and at least one
in every state. About 23 of the centers are known as
A variety of public and nonprofit entities are eligible for
Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs), which are operated
YouthBuild grants. Program grantees must offer
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest
participants full-time participation in the program for not
Service. DOL transfers funding for these centers to USDA
less than 6 months and not more than 24 months.
under an interagency agreement. The other centers are
operated by private organizations, most of which are for-
Per the FY2023 DOL budget, there are approximately 175
profit, through contracts with DOL (which are governed by
DOL-funded YouthBuild programs active in 41 states,
federal procurement laws).
serving about 6,000 youth annually.
Each center is subject to a performance accountability
YouthBuild was established by the Cranston-Gonzalez
system that establishes expected levels of performance
National Affordable Housing Act (P.L. 101-625) and was
related to participants’ credential attainment, employment,
most recently reauthorized and amended by WIOA.
and earnings. In most cases, DOL may not renew a contract
if the center ranks among the lowest 10% of centers
Benjamin Collins, Analyst in Labor Policy
nationwide for two years and fails to achieve an average of
Adam K. Edgerton, Analyst in Education Policy
50% or higher in the expected levels of performance.
IF11952
Job Corps is not one of the six WIOA core programs and is
not required to be included in the state unified planning
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Youth Employment and Training Programs Authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

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