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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.
Subscribe to Young adults (aged 16-24)