Youth Employment

Topic: Preparing Minority Males for Employment

Minority Males Employment

Problem:

The National Employment rate for minority groups between the ages 16 to 24, is below 8%, compared to the national average of 55%.

National Average for Young Adults Employment: 55%
White American: 57%
African-American: 47%
Asian American: 43%
Hispanic American: 51%
Native American: N/A*

Sources:
Brookings Institute 
*Native American Data

Causes:

Living in Poor Communities (Lack of Businesses and Job Opportunities)

Poor School Attendance (School lateness and Class Cuts)

Non-Money Management Skills (Poor understanding of Economics)

Time Management (Lack of Accountability)

How the 100% Graduation Rate Program Address the Problem:

  1. We met with the student and their parent to sign a 4-year agreement to graduate on time.
  2. We held 12 after-school training sessions on Economics and the US Legal System for 9th graders.
  3. We worked with local businesses, organizations, and the school district to find summer job opportunities for the program participants.
  4. We help place students in summer job programs or help find them summer jobs from 9th grade to 11th grade.
  5. We met with student’s summer job employers and gave them our contact information.
  6. We held 18 after-school training sessions on Academic Preparation, Social Skills and Job Readiness for 10th graders.
  7. We did not assist students in finding summer employment, if they had to attend summer school.

100% Graduation Rate Program Results:

Camden, New Jersey – **Program Participants Group B (105) compared to Program Sample Group A  (105)

The Male Program participants had a 73% higher Youth Employment rate. Compared to the City’s sample group of males – 95% (100 out of 105) to 22% (23 out of 105).

**Selection Process:
Each year, the City’s two largest high schools – Camden High and Woodrow Wilson – Guidance Departments selected 15 incoming high school freshmen for the program. These students were classified as at-risk, based on having grades below C in Math and/or Reading, or had a poor student behavior problem.

The students were then randomly assigned to a Program Group- A (Non-treatment) or Group B (Program Treatment) – based on their seating during the program’s orientation.

Our Recommendations:

School Districts should develop a career path curriculum for middle-school students, and develop partnerships with local Businesses, and Community Organizations to:

  • create paid and non-paid career summer job programs.
  • work with the local Chamber of Commerce to conduct monthly job readiness, youth workshops.
  • expand the high school Internships program and allow students to receive high school graduation credits.