Wraparound Supports and Employer-connected Pathways: Employment Strategy Spotlight
Employment Playbook: Strategy Spotlight
Overview
When young people secure work that pays a living wage, offers benefits, builds skills and provides purpose, they gain a trajectory toward long-term stability and opportunity. Communities can make this possible by aligning workforce systems, expanding access to internships and apprenticeships, engaging employers and ensuring every young person has the support and connections they need to launch a rewarding career.
In Baltimore, 21% of high school graduates in the class of 2020 were disconnected from both work and school just months after graduating, and those who stay disconnected often earn barely $15,000 a year. Baltimore’s Promise is tackling this head-on through Grads2Careers, which connects recent graduates with free occupational training, industry credentials, job placement and wraparound support in high-growth fields. For every $1 invested, youth earned $2.81 in annual wages, and those who land jobs in their field of training see even stronger returns. Building on that success, Baltimore’s Promise launched CareerBound, a citywide system that aligns schools, training providers and employers around clear career pathways. When systems share goals, data and strategies, young people gain the tools they need to build lasting careers.
Playbook ChaptersEmployment Playbook
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