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Population in focus: what works for young adults?

For more information about the interventions covered in this profile, use the hyperlinks in Exhibit 1 below.

Overview

Are you looking for the best ways to support the young adults you serve? Young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 can face unique challenges and opportunities as they transition into the labor market. This Population in Focus page summarizes what we know about how labor market outcomes for young adults experiencing economic hardship are affected by interventions that aim to improve their education, employment, and economic self-sufficiency.

What works?

As of April 2023, the Pathways Clearinghouse identified 14 interventions that served young adults and had at least one study with evidence rated high or moderate. These 14 interventions were described in 14 studies. Across all interventions measuring impacts on a given outcome domain—earnings, employment, public benefit receipt, and education and training—the interventions with the largest long-term effects and a supported rating were the following:

Earnings

Earnings

Year Up had the largest effects on long-term annual earnings (an average of $7,154 per year). Year Up offered training and work experience in the information technology and investment operations fields to young adults to help them access careers with good pay and advancement opportunities.

These are the five interventions with the largest effects. See Exhibit 1 for all interventions.
Employment

Employment

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe had the largest effects on long-term employment (an average of 6 percentage points). The ChalleNGe Program aimed to improve the lives of youth who were out of school and under- or unemployed by providing education, positive youth development, and mentorship.

These are the five interventions with the largest effects. See Exhibit 1 for all interventions.
Public benefit receipt

Public benefit receipt

Job Corps had the largest effects on long-term benefit receipt (decreasing the amount of public benefits received by $47 per year). Job Corps provided individualized education, vocational training, residential support, comprehensive health services, counseling, and job placement assistance to economically disadvantaged youth. These services were typically provided in a residential setting with the goal of helping participants become more responsible and obtain employment.

Effects on long-term benefit receipt

Job Corps
$47

Decrease long-term benefit receipt

Education and training

Education and training

Transition WORKS had the largest effects on education and training (increasing the attainment of a degree or credential by an average of 28 percentage points). Transition WORKS aimed to empower youth receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and improve their economic self-sufficiency through a series of workshops focused on self-determination, education and employment services, case management, financial incentives, work-based experience, and job development.

These are the five interventions with the largest effects. See Exhibit 1 for all interventions.

Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies Project

Submitted by swissel on

To further build the evidence around effective strategies for helping individuals with low incomes find and sustain employment, OPRE contracted with Mathematica to conduct the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies (NextGen) Project. This project will identify and test innovative, promising employment interventions designed to help individuals facing complex challenges secure a pathway toward economic independence. These challenges may be physical and mental health conditions, substance misuse, a criminal history, or limited work skills and experience.

Young Parent Demonstration (YPD) Plus Mentoring as compared with YPD

Intervention (standard name)
Young Parent Demonstration (YPD) Plus Mentoring (as compared with YPD)

Enhanced services for the YPD Plus Mentoring participants varied across sites but often included several hours of one-on-one mentoring services, individualized mentee support, or group workshops, in addition to YPD services. The duration of services varied by site. One site offered 2 to 12 weeks of work readiness classes followed by employment assistance, while another offered a 15-month weekly peer group workshops focusing on educational attainment, technological skills development, workforce readiness, and career exploration.

Asset-Building Services—Postsecondary Education Services

Intervention (standard name)
Asset Building Services—Post-Secondary Education Services

Postsecondary Education Services included college or vocational training, counseling, tutoring, and preparation for college entrance exams through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The intervention served youth in foster care who turned 17 in 2011. Youth could receive services at any point between March 2011 and September 2015. Services were offered to youth across the United States. Intervention participants also could receive any other CFCIP-offered services, including other asset-building services such as budgeting and financial education.

Asset-Building Services—Budgeting and Financial Education Services

Intervention (standard name)
Asset Building Services—Budgeting and Financial Education Services

Budgeting and Financial Education Services included providing information about financial assets and asset building, such as how to open a savings account, and information about taxes and tax filing assistance through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The intervention served youth in foster care who turned 17 in 2011. Youth could receive services at any point between March 2011 and September 2015. Services were offered to youth across the United States.

Youth Villages LifeSet (YVLifeSet)

Intervention (standard name)
YVLifeSet

Youth formerly in state custody (foster care or the juvenile justice system) received customized case management that included weekly meetings with a transitional living specialist who used motivational interviewing and provided trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy services as needed. Participants also received soft-skills training, supportive services, and other services to encourage independent living, education, and work.

Opportunity Works

Intervention (standard name)
Opportunity Works

Services delivered via Opportunity Works varied by program site over an unspecified duration. Services could include case management, college-readiness instruction and coaching, goal setting, support with high school completion, career planning and exploration, job development and support, financial planning support, occupational skills training, and transportation assistance. Eligibility requirements varied by age and gender across program sites, but all Opportunity Works participants were between the ages of 18 and 24.

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program (ChalleNGe)

Intervention (standard name)
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe

The ChalleNGe program consisted of three phases. In Phase 1, participants attended a two-week, intensive orientation and assessment. Following this orientation, participants were formally enrolled in the program and considered cadets. The cadets then began Phase 2, which consisted of a 20-week education program focused on preparation for the GED exam and positive youth development. Phases 1 and 2 required the cadets to live on-site and experience a quasi-military environment. During Phase 3, the cadets participated in a nonresidential structured mentoring program for a year.

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