US Department of Labor announces new communities in initiative to improve workforce opportunities for young people

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the second cohort of its Youth Systems Building Academy, an innovative effort to increase and enhance employment opportunities for youth. The 10 additional communities and their partners will receive individualized training and tailored technical assistance from the department to help develop, test, implement or scale systems that engage and support young people entering the workforce. 

Delivering a “no-wrong-door” youth workforce system is a critical part of the department’s Youth Employment Works strategy to ensure young workers are prepared and empowered to take advantage of opportunities in today’s labor market. 

In March 2023, the department announced its initial cohort of communities that developed strategies to improve youth employment outcomes. The self-nomination period for the latest cohort closed in November 2023, and the 10 communities selected will incorporate the lessons learned from their predecessors to improve the ecosystem of support available to young workers in their respective communities. 

Supported by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the Youth Systems Building Academy seeks to leverage the capacity of youth organizations to deploy innovative approaches, incorporate data and youth feedback and align local partners and investments to improve the supportive ecosystem for young people navigating the workforce. 

The latest communities in the department’s Youth Systems Building Academy are as follows: