These Job-Training Programs Work, and May Show Others the Way

Year Up is one of a relative handful of nonprofits that have established track records of lifting young adults into jobs that can be ladders to the middle class. The program's holistic approach to workforce development combines technical and soft skills training with support for daily life challenges. As Corporate America shifts hiring practices, dropping the requirement for a four-year college degree, Year Up's deep corporate relationships, mentoring, and internships, have led to a 70% graduation rate and higher salaries for graduates. The government's Good Jobs Challenge aims to replicate these successes on a larger scale.