Table of Contents

Letter from AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney

Introduction

Work and Today's Youth

Unions and School-to-Work

Questions and Answers

Alternate Funding Sources

Online Resources

Bibliography

This guide is for unions that want to help our youth grow into adults that are ready and eager to participate fully in our increasingly complex society.

What is it like to be a teenager today, trying to decide about jobs, careers, education and training after high school? Teens themselves have not changed much—they are still idealistic, optimistic, and eager to work hard as they strive to develop self-confidence and establish an identity independent from their family. But the world of work has changed significantly since most of us were teens.

In today’s economy, young workers are entering the workforce at a time when most newly created jobs offer lower wages, fewer benefits, and far less security than their parents had. Most workers under 35 years old—even those with college degrees—have seen a decline in their real wages over the past few decades. The “forgotten majority”—those youth without college degrees—face especially challenging futures.

Increasingly, unions are responding to the needs of this next generation of workers. Some are helping youth become skilled workers through their established apprenticeship, training and education programs, or through programs like Job Corps, YouthBuild and vocational or technical education programs supported with government funds. Others participate in job shadowing, “bring your child to work” days, and similar activities. But we must find more ways to connect with more young people.

This guide contains descriptions of new and innovative union efforts to reach out to teenagers as they begin to shape their futures. The National School-to-Work Opportunities Act made many of these initiatives possible. The guide also reports on key educational and employment trends among young people today. And finally, it offers resources and suggestions to help unions connect with teens in their own communities.

We thank the many union leaders, activists, and educators who generously shared their ideas, experiences, and time to develop this guide.