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Youth Employment: A Foundation for Mental Health and Well-Being
Youth Employment: A Foundation for Mental Health and Well-BeingMcGinnis.Laura…Employment is an important foundation for mental health and well-being. This Mental Health Awareness Month, the U.S. Department of Labor is focused on how employment and pathways to good jobs can support the mental health of young people.
Our new “Youth Employment: A Foundation for Mental Health and Well-Being” emphasis gets to the heart of the matter. In the past, society has viewed mental health and employment as separate issues, but they’re very much connected. A good job offers not only wages and benefits that create financial stability and ensure future security, but also instills a sense of purpose and belonging that motivates us to achieve and grow. For some people, this may mean workplace accommodations and health care benefits that offer access to treatment for mental health conditions or substance use disorders. For young people, in particular, workforce development and career training programs can also be important access points to information, resources, and mentors that can support well-being.
Quality work experiences, including internships, apprenticeships, cooperative education, and mentoring, can produce immediate and long-term benefits for young people, such as financial independence and improved health, both physical and mental.
It is paramount to ensure young people benefit from workforce development programs and supportive services that prepare them for the good jobs being created by President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda. As with all workers, it is also critical to make sure young people know their workplace rights, what resources exist to support their mental health and well-being, and how to access these resources. The workforce system is often a front-line point of contact for young people and can be a valuable ally in identifying and responding to their needs. It is an important part of a community approach essential to creating a “no-wrong-door" culture characterized by seamless access to education, training, wellness services, housing, transportation and other supports needed to successfully transition from youth to adulthood and thrive in the world of work.
Now is the time to commit to bridging the gap between youth employment programs and wellness services. Preparing young people for good jobs requires us to make sure those jobs also support their well-being.
There are many ways our communities can step up to support #YouthMentalHealth.
Young people can take steps to protect, improve, and advocate for their mental health and that of their family, friends, and neighbors.
The workforce system can support a “no wrong door” approach to supportive services, take steps to identify and respond to the mental health and well-being needs of young people, and build workforce in related professions.
Policy makers can encourage programs and supportive practices in the workplace that help mitigate employment disparities and encourage more young people, including those from underserved communities, to work and contribute to their well-being.
Employers can create a mental health friendly workplace culture that fosters well-being, including for young people, through their recruitment, hiring, onboarding, retention, and benefits practices.
Learn more about each of these areas on our new page. This month and beyond, let’s commit to fostering career success and overall health by getting more young people into good jobs that promote well-being, because good jobs change lives. During Mental Health Awareness Month, tell us what you are doing to support #YouthMentalHealth.
Submit a response by June 15, 2024. And join us on May 14 at 2:00 p.m. ET, to hear department leadership talk about resources and recommendations. Register for the virtual event here.
Julie Su is the acting secretary of labor.
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Building the Next Generation of Teachers Through Apprenticeship
Building the Next Generation of Teachers Through ApprenticeshipMcGinnis.Laura…Teacher Appreciation Week, May 5-10, is our nation’s opportunity to celebrate and recognize the important role teachers play in developing our nation’s future workforce. For too long, the U.S. has struggled to recruit and retain qualified teachers that also reflect the demographics of their classrooms. To help address these challenges, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education are collaborating to expand access to education careers through Registered Apprenticeship.
Registered Apprenticeship is an effective "earn and learn" model with a long history of establishing career pathways in growing industries by providing structured, paid, on-the-job learning experiences with a mentor combined with job-related technical instruction that leads to a nationally recognized credential. To learn more about Registered Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeship.gov.
Building on the Biden administration’s Good Jobs Initiative, we’re expanding Registered Apprenticeships for educators and investing in quality teacher preparation programs. These efforts started with a joint effort, leadership, and call to action from our departments through a Dear Colleague Letter for education and workforce leaders to address educator shortages, and investments to support developing, expanding and scaling high-quality and affordable pathways into teaching. This call to action aims to ensure teachers have access to increased pay and better working conditions across the early childhood, K-12 and higher education workforce.
The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has continued to partner with the Department of Education to make significant investments to develop and scale teacher apprenticeship programs, including:
- Funding a Registered Apprenticeship Industry Intermediary to provide no-cost technical assistance and support to state education agencies, districts, education preparation programs, teacher unions or associations and other partners to help develop and implement high-quality educator Registered Apprenticeship programs.
- Awarding over $66 million in State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants to 46 states and territories to develop and scale Registered Apprenticeship programs in education and other critical sectors, over $60 million of which went to states that identified education as a targeted sector.
- Awarding funding to Kansas, Utah, North Dakota, Washington and New Hampshire to support the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship programs for K-12 teachers.
- Awarding more than $171 million in Apprenticeship Building America grants to strengthen and modernize Registered Apprenticeship programs and enable workers to find a reliable pathway to the middle class, more than $45 million of which went to grantees that identified education as a target sector.
We also recently announced the availability of nearly $200 million to support Registered Apprenticeship expansion, prioritizing projects that support the Investing in America agenda by increasing access to Registered Apprenticeships in high-demand sectors and occupations, including K-12 teacher occupations. Strategies to use Registered Apprenticeship to train a next generation of teachers continue to expand, with 37 states and territories now providing K-12 teacher apprenticeship programs, up from just two states in 2022. Today, over 100 K-12 teacher Registered Apprenticeship programs have been registered and over 3,000 K-12 teacher apprentices have been trained. That’s a lot of progress made in just two years! And this administration is committed to ensuring that progress continues.
To support raising awareness around K-12 teacher Registered Apprenticeships, ETA industry intermediary partner RTI International published a Profile in Educator Registered Apprenticeship Programs report, which explores different program design models, varying target populations, modernized onramps to successful teacher pathways, innovative funding models, and opportunities for degree attainment.
The report is the first in a series, which ETA will release in partnership with RTI to explore various strategies to expand the use of Registered Apprenticeship to train America’s educators. K-12 teacher Registered Apprenticeship programs will continue to play a key role in increasing pathways to rewarding careers in the education sector, filling vacant positions with high-quality, well-trained teachers, and a focus on diversifying the workforce. For additional information on any of these programs, please visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Manny Lamarre is a deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
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Mothers’ employment has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but the childcare crisis persists.
Mothers’ employment has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but the childcare crisis persists.Holloway.Loryn…The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the precariousness of both employment and the caregiving infrastructure across the country. The huge shock to the economy, when coupled with the closure of schools and paid caregiving facilities, wreaked havoc on employment rates, and mothers’ employment in particular plummeted 15.7% from February to April 2020*. While many mothers stopped working during this time because their employers shut down, others left the labor force because they had no other option than to provide full-time care for their loved ones.
Now, four years later, overall maternal employment has largely recovered from the steep declines experienced at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the share of employed mothers is 1.9% higher now than in February 2020, according to a Women’s Bureau analysis of the Current Population Survey. And while the speed of employment recovery varied for different groups of mothers, as of February 2024, maternal employment has more or less recovered for most groups of moms. For many groups of mothers – Asian moms, Hispanic moms, those with a bachelor’s degree and those whose youngest child is younger than six years – employment rates now exceed pre-pandemic levels. For other groups of mothers – those with less than a bachelor’s degree and those whose youngest child is 13 to 17 years old – employment rates now hover around pre-pandemic levels.
ACROSS MANY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS, MORE MOMS ARE EMPLOYED NOW THAN PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Percent Change in Mothers’ Employment in February 2024 Relative to February 2020One factor that may have contributed to the growth in employment for some U.S. mothers is the increasing prevalence of telework. In 2023, about 24.2% of mothers reported working from home at some point in the prior week, with rates rising to 26.8% among mothers with whose youngest child is under the age of six, according to a Women’s Bureau analysis of the Current Population Survey.
Although telework may be a valuable strategy for integrating work and family responsibilities for some, it is by no means a panacea. Many jobs – particularly service jobs, healthcare occupations and jobs in education – often do not offer telework options. Similarly, telework is often unavailable for those with less education: While 34% of mothers with only a bachelor’s degree and 36% of mothers with an advanced degree reported teleworking in the prior week, only 4% of mothers with less than a high school diploma reported teleworking. And even for those workers who can access it, telework is not a substitute for adequate, accessible and affordable child care. Indeed, childcare availability has become even more constrained as many childcare providers closed permanently or lost workers during the pandemic.
When a family has childcare issues, mothers miss work or reduce work hours more often than fathers. In 2023, among employed parents who did not work in the prior week, 3.1% of mothers and 1.1% of fathers reported childcare problems as the reason for not working, according to a Women’s Bureau analysis of the Current Population Survey. Similarly, among employed parents who normally worked full-time but worked part-time in the prior week, 3.9% of mothers and 1.5% of fathers reported childcare problems as the reason for working fewer hours.
MORE MOMS THAN DADS TAKE TIME OFF WORK FOR CHILD CARE
Percent of Employed Parents Who Did Not Work or Worked Part-Time in the Prior Week Due to Childcare ProblemsExpanding and strengthening the U.S. care infrastructure could help alleviate these work disruptions and likely bolster mothers’ employment. Research from the Women’s Bureau finds that a 10% decrease in median childcare prices in a county is associated with a 1% increase in maternal employment. Improving the care infrastructure also means ensuring quality jobs and family-sustaining wages for childcare workers.
Expanded access to policies like paid family and medical leave could also improve stability in employment hours among those employed and reduce gender disparities in labor supply. While maternal employment has recovered and even exceeded pre-pandemic levels, the employment rate of mothers (71.7% in February 2024) remains far lower than that of fathers (92.0%). Estimates suggest that if the U.S. had a labor force participation rate similar to Canada or Germany – countries that both have national paid leave and more comprehensive family-supporting policies – the number of women employed would increase by about 5 million and generate over $775 billion in economic activity a year. Although their employment has finally returned to pre-pandemic levels, the lack of a robust care infrastructure may continue to prevent mothers from achieving their full potential in the labor force.
*Unless specified otherwise, data applies to mothers ages 25 to 54 with children under 13.
Erin George is an Economist at the Women’s Bureau.
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Youth Apprenticeship Week is Here!
Youth Apprenticeship Week is Here!McGinnis.Laura…We are excited to celebrate the first Youth Apprenticeship Week (YAW)! From May 5 to 11, 2024, we are celebrating the incredible opportunities that Registered Apprenticeship programs offer to our young workforce.
Registered Apprenticeship stands as a pivotal strategy in addressing our nation's workforce demands across vital sectors like education, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, clean energy, cybersecurity, and other critical areas. This approach gains significance especially in light of the administration's landmark federal investments through acts like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, which have spurred growth in high-needs sectors.
Moreover, Registered Apprenticeship can serve as a pathway accelerating young people (ages 16-24) into high-quality, financially rewarding jobs while also fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the workplace. Throughout the week, we will showcase the success and value of Youth Apprenticeship by focusing on a range of daily themes:
- Monday: “Parents and Guardians are a Priority” in Registered Apprenticeship
- Tuesday: Youth Apprenticeships: Building Awareness, Myth Busting, Partnering with Educational Providers, and Creating Pathways through Pre-Apprenticeship.
- Wednesday: Expanding Youth Apprenticeship Opportunities for Underserved Populations
- Thursday: National Youth Apprenticeship Signing Day
- Friday: Federal Partners Day and Call to Action
Why YAW Matters
Whether you are a student, educator, employer or simply passionate about shaping the future, YAW is your chance to join the movement. YAW is all about empowering our youth and young adults. Imagine being 16–24 years old and having the chance to earn family-sustaining wages while gaining hands-on experience in your chosen field. That’s what Registered Apprenticeship programs provide! These programs bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience, setting youth and young adults on a trajectory toward meaningful careers.
Registered Apprenticeships are not just about learning a new skill or occupation; they are about building a sustainable pipeline of talent. As industries evolve, we need skilled workers who can adapt and thrive. YAW showcases how Registered Apprenticeships create a direct link between education and employment, ensuring that young workers are well-prepared for tomorrow’s jobs. Registered Apprenticeship programs allow young people to pursue a meaningful career with experienced professionals supporting them and may include opportunities to earn college credit while doing so. Offering practical training, mentorship and the chance to earn while learning, apprenticeships present a win-win scenario for youth and young adults and employers.
Join the Movement
Remember, YAW is not just a week—it is a movement. Join us in celebrating Youth Apprenticeship Week 2024! Let us empower our future workforce, celebrate their achievements and build a brighter future together!
Host a YAW Event:Organize an event in your community, school, or workplace.
Submit an Event and a Proclamation:Tell us about your YAW event or proclamation, and we will highlight it on our website.
Spread the Word:Use #YAW2024 and #ApprenticeshipUSA on social media. For more information, visit the official YAW page.
Manny Lamarre is a senior policy advisor in the department’s Employment and Training Administration.
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Charting a Path for Unemployment Insurance
Charting a Path for Unemployment InsuranceMcGinnis.Laura…Acting Secretary Julie Su provides opening remarks at the UI Transformation Convening. Building on the momentum generated by historic American Rescue Plan Act investments in unemployment insurance modernization, the Department of Labor has released a comprehensive plan for transforming the unemployment insurance (UI) system, entitled Building Resilience: A plan for transforming unemployment insurance.
The plan details how the department is tackling challenges across seven areas of the UI system, and key legislative challenges that must be solved to unlock the plan’s potential.
- Adequately funding UI administration
- Delivering high-quality customer service
- Building resilient and responsive state IT systems
- Bolstering state UI programs against fraud
- Ensuring equitable access to robust benefits and services
- Rebuilding and stabilizing the funding of state UI benefits
- Strengthening reemployment and connections to suitable work
The legislative recommendations, which are grounded in the Biden administration’s UI reform principles, would help the department more effectively oversee the UI system and further support states’ efforts to build and sustain stable UI programs. The plan is a response to a recommendation made by the Government Accountability Office in 2022, when it put the UI system on its High Risk list.
To kick off the next stage of UI transformation activities detailed in the plan, we gathered key claimant advocates, labor unions, business representatives, state UI agency officials, UI program experts and other stakeholders for two interactive discussions on the future of UI. These events highlighted key areas of the transformation plan and emphasized collaboration as a critical component of advancing system change.
Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training José Javier Rodríguez Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su gave opening remarks at both events, acknowledging the vital role of UI in guiding the country through the darkest moments of the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating the economic recovery. However, in its current form, UI is unable to deliver the full safety net that America needs. Emphasizing the importance of repairing the UI safety net now while the economy is strong, Acting Secretary Su said: “Now is the time to seize the moment and make lasting investments and reforms to prepare for the next economic crisis.”
Acting Secretary Su also noted that early successes demonstrate what’s possible when states and the department have the resources to work together. She spoke about the hundreds of American Rescue Plan Act-supported projects underway tackling discrete challenges in the system, as well as what we’ve learned about what needs to change in the UI system – an ongoing effort that directly informed the transformation plan.
The acting secretary also emphasized the significant benefits that lie ahead for all stakeholders if we continue building upon the transformative work kicked off by American Rescue Plan Act. As she emphasized, the time to fix the UI system is now, during today’s historic stretch of low unemployment. Ongoing collaboration by state and federal policy makers, including Congress, together with other key system stakeholders is critical to repairing this essential U.S. safety net program.
Claire McKenna is a senior policy advisor in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Unemployment Insurance ModernizationClaire McKenna
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