The Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) Division of Youth Services, within the U.S. Department of Labor, recently launched a new tool “Credentials for Youth”, to help workforce professionals identify promising occupations for youth served by the workforce system, and the credentials that help youth attain them.

Attaining postsecondary and occupational credentials is critical for youth to be successful in the 21st century economy.  Good-paying jobs in high demand industries generally require postsecondary education or training.  Plus, the earnings bump that accompanies postsecondary credentials is well established.  To help workforce professionals identify promising occupations for youth served by the workforce system, and the credentials that help youth attain them, ETA has developed the Credentials for Youth tool on Workforce3One’s Youth Community of Practice.  This tool, available at https://youth.workforce3one.org/page/credentials, provides a step-by-step process for helping youth attain credentials in high demand occupations.  First, it connects users to resources that can help them find high demand occupations in their local area using labor market information.  It then helps practitioners identify promising occupations for youth and determine which of those occupations have pathways to career advancement.  Finally, the tool helps discover the credentials required for the identified promising occupations and provides certification information about specific occupations, including links to certifying organizations.  In addition to the step-by-step process, the Credentials for Youth tool also provides local examples of programs that help youth attain credentials.

A recent study based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data found that by 2018, more than two-thirds of the 47 million projected job openings will require some level of postsecondary education or training, including industry certification. For employers, credentials demonstrate and document skills, enhancing their ability to fill skilled positions, identify talent pipelines, and compete. For youth, credentials can improve their labor market experience leading to higher earnings, greater mobility, and enhanced job security.

As defined by the ETA, a credential is awarded in recognition of an individual’s attainment of measurable technical or occupational skills necessary to obtain employment or advance within an occupation. These technical or occupational skills are generally based on standards developed or endorsed by employers. Certificates awarded by workforce investment boards (WIBs) and work readiness certificates are not included in this definition, however developing skills, such as work readiness skills, is an important step in preparing youth to be successful in the workforce.

To learn about strategies that state and local workforce agencies and their strategic partners can adopt to increase the rate of credential attainment among workforce program participants and improve the quality of those credentials, see Training and Employment Guidance Letter 15-10: Increasing Credential, Degree, and Certificate Attainment by Participants of the Public Workforce.

For more information and resources:

• Steps To Help Youth Attain Credentials In High Demand Occupations
• Local Examples Of Programs Helping Youth Attain Credentials
• And, learn more about youth employment in the youth topics section!