Service years are an effective workforce development tool that develop talent pipelines for the next generation into in-demand sectors.
Strategically investing in the professional development of young people who are well-suited for the economy by arming them with the technical and employability skills they need to succeed is essential to the nation’s future, and service years are a powerful tool to accomplish this goal.
Service years play an important role in the country’s workforce development ecosystem, offering training and career on-ramps in high need industries for emerging and transitioning professionals. By committing to a year of service, corps members gain substantial exposure to an area of work or career path before committing to it, build the technical skills necessary to complete the job, receive wraparound supports, and establish the employability skills that develop future leaders and make them valuable employees.
Particularly given significant hiring needs in public service, health, education, climate resilience, and clean energy, service years are well-suited to serve as an entry point for young people into these professions. Additionally, research shows that those who participate in service year programs without a bachelor’s degree are over twice as likely to go on to earn their degree compared to their peers. Service year alums also begin their careers in higher-paying roles than their peers in a variety of career areas.
Jobs for the Future, Next100, and Service Year Alliance are partnering to host a virtual workshop for National Apprenticeship Week to highlight how employers can leverage the service year network to recruit diverse young talent into their apprenticeship opportunities.
Jobs for the Future, Next100, and Service Year Alliance partnered to develop a report to identify strategies and promising practices to support national service programs interested in aligning and engaging with pre-apprenticeship training.
This report provides grantees, state service commissions, and the AmeriCorps federal agency with recommendations and examples on how to build equitable pre-apprenticeship national service programming that provides service members with critical workforce skills and prepares them for entry into an apprenticeship or career.
View the Report: “Advancing Pre-Apprenticeship Programming Through National Service”
Interested in advancing pre-apprenticeship programming through national service? Connect with Brent Kossick, Service Year Alliance’s Director, Programs for additional support and resources at [email protected].
Service Year Alliance is pleased to have partnered with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council under two federally supported projects intended to create pathways for diverse individuals to enter into quality green sector career paths.
Apprenticeships in Clean Energy (ACE) Network: Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, Service Year Alliance is working with the network of partners assembled under the project to explore opportunities to further leverage national service programming as a talent development pipeline into quality clean energy-adjacent apprenticeships.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Enhancement and Innovation Project Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Service Year Alliance is working to ensure that WAP agencies have the resources they need to incorporate quality diversity, equity, and inclusion practices into their recruitment and employee support strategies and are also equipped with the knowledge they need to form talent development partnerships with service year programs in their area.
To learn more about these projects or to discuss how your organization can become involved, please contact Brent Kossick, our Director, Programs at [email protected].