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When I read a report like this (see below/attached), I’m reinvigorated about the work we do at Jackrabbit LX, building learning programs that truly change lives and open doors to opportunity. We see the world through a learning lens, confident that targeted, scalable learning experiences are the foundation of economic mobility. Reports like this one don’t just inspire me, they provide critical evidence that with well-designed, sector-driven training combined with engaged employer partnership we can move the needle for young adults facing barriers.
Two facts from this report stood out to me:
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- YASEP was the first large-scale workforce initiative in our country to create a Learning Community that directly involved employers in shaping industry-specific training for young adults out of school and out of work.
- The Green City Force partnership with Franklin Energy demonstrated how well-prepared graduates can drastically improve employee retention, saving employers significant costs while creating real career opportunities.
These highlights underscore the power of employer-driven, sectoral learning models combined with youth-centered support. This report supports our conviction that scalable, data-informed learning programs designed in collaboration with industry leaders are not only effective but essential. We use this framework as we help clients build capacity to develop learning experiences that are aligned with labor market needs, inclusive of diverse learners, and built to last.
If you’re involved in workforce training or committed to opening pathways for young people, this report is a must-read. Below, we break down YASEP’s key results and share our perspective on what they mean for learning programs today- and how organizations like ours can help turn these insights into action.
First, Who is JobsFirstNYC: The Creator of the YASEP Program?
Since 2006, JobsFirstNYC has been pioneering innovative solutions to break down employment barriers for young adults. As a nonprofit committed to economic opportunity, JobsFirstNYC partners with employers, training providers, community organizations, and funders to shape scalable workforce strategies, significantly impacting policy, funding structures, and employment practices.
In 2013, JobsFirstNYC launched the Young Adult Sectoral Employment Project (YASEP) to address high unemployment and underemployment among young adults aged 18–24, particularly those not enrolled in school or employed. Nationwide, one in seven young adults faced these barriers- a troubling statistic mirrored in New York City.
What is YASEP?
YASEP was the first large-scale, employer-driven ‘sectoral’ employment initiative designed specifically for young adults. It involves building deep connections with employers and training providers within targeted sectors to create tailored pathways that meet real labor market needs. Given the past success of sectoral based approach in adult programs, YASEP attempted to adapt the same strategy at scale for young adults who were out of school and out of work. It was a daring experiment to test whether combining sectoral approaches with holistic youth support would improve employment outcomes for this demographic.
Over five years, it forged 11 strategic partnerships among community organizations, training providers, and employers across key sectors such as healthcare, technology, green energy, hospitality, and the creative industries. Its objective was clear: collaboratively develop employer-aligned pathways to sustainable careers, infused with youth development principles.
YASEP’s success shows that when young adults receive sector-specific, employer-informed training combined with supportive services, they gain meaningful, lasting economic opportunities.
Core Components Driving Impact
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- Collaborative Partnerships: Unified expertise and shared accountability across community organizations, training entities, and employers.
- Employer-Led Design: Employers actively shaped program development to meet real labor market demands.
- Youth Development Principles: Programs included mentorship, experiential learning, leadership opportunities, and long-term career support.
- Data-Driven Continuous Improvement: Use of labor market data to refine program effectiveness.
Real-Life Success Stories for Youth and Employers Alike:
Taiheem’s Journey into Tech:
Before YASEP, Taiheem earned $9.75/hour as a security guard. After completing the TechBridge program (a partnership between Per Scholas and The Door), he secured employment with the Javits Center, later advancing to a technical role at 2U. Taiheem’s career transformation underscores the program’s profound impact on individual economic mobility.
Franklin Energy’s Cost Savings:
Partnering with Green City Force, Franklin Energy identified substantial cost savings through reduced turnover rates, achieving nearly 100% retention of new hires beyond 90 days. This success enabled the reinvestment of $240,000 into further employee training, improving operational efficiency and workforce quality.
Significant Outcomes
By 2018, YASEP had:
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- Connected 2,135 young adults to education, training, and employment opportunities.
- Facilitated job placements for 1,121 participants in targeted sectors.
- Enabled 883 young adults to earn industry-recognized credentials.
- Enhanced employer practices, notably reducing turnover and improving onboarding processes.
- 91% of partnerships sustained and expanded their programs post-demonstration, indicating strong model viability.
- Influenced systemic changes in youth workforce policy and public funding.
Lessons Learned and Solutions from Learning Programs Perspective
While YASEP demonstrated significant achievements, several critical insights emerged, accompanied by proposed solutions from a learning programs standpoint:
- Balancing Youth Development with Employer Needs: Integrating youth-focused strategies with employer-driven demands proved complex, occasionally leading to conflicting objectives.
Solution: Design modular, flexible learning curricula that incorporate both employer requirements and youth development principles, enabling customized pathways to effectively address diverse participant needs.
- Data Management Complexity: Effective data systems were challenging to implement across multiple stakeholders.
Solution: Invest in streamlined, integrated learning analytics platforms that simplify data tracking and reporting, facilitating quicker and more informed decision-making.
- Addressing Staff Turnover: High turnover among frontline program staff emphasized the importance of robust knowledge retention systems.
Solution: Develop detailed instructional playbooks and standardized training materials, ensuring consistent and sustainable delivery of training regardless of staff changes.
- Equitable Labor Market Data Access: Smaller community-based organizations lacked real-time access to labor market intelligence.
Solution: Establish centralized labor market data repositories accessible to all partner organizations, supported by ongoing training on data utilization.
- Defining and Measuring Employer Value: The absence of standardized employer value metrics limited deeper business community engagement.
Solution: Develop clear employer value metrics and integrate these into learning program dashboards, clearly communicating return on investment through data-driven storytelling.
- Sustainability Concerns: Reliance on philanthropic funding raised questions about long-term sustainability.
Solution: To reduce reliance on philanthropy, YASEP should diversify funding through public-private partnerships, outcomes-based contracts, and social impact investments. Adding earned revenue models like employer-paid training also creates sustainable income. This approach builds financial resilience and ensures long-term program impact. Additionally, building internal workforce development capacity can significantly reduce expenses related to hiring outside expertise for building training programs, in the long run.
The Critical Role of Learning Programs and Capacity Building Tools
Structured, scalable, and data-informed learning programs are foundational to sustaining workforce development initiatives over the long term.
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- Clarifying strategic goals and aligning them with workforce demands.
- Enhancing internal capacity through ongoing professional development.
- Optimizing resources and processes through systematic approaches.
- Establishing sustainable, replicable, and adaptable program infrastructures.
Enduring Legacy and Future Directions
Despite challenges, YASEP’s innovative framework continues influencing workforce development through initiatives such as SectorBOOST and Sector Networks, significantly expanding opportunities for thousands of young adults. Leveraging these insights and learning-focused solutions, we can all work together to lead this evolution by creating structured, impactful learning experiences that ensure lasting economic mobility.