“Time has come again” for career pathways: Workforce development for youth in the US

Youth who are not in school and not working may be labeled “disconnected” or “opportunity youth,” and are recognized as a population that requires intervention to establish a trajectory that avoids poverty and leads to economic stability. In this study, we aim to contribute to this discussion by reporting data from two recent studies of workforce development systems’ attention to opportunity youth. We address the question: How do workforce development systems implement the concepts of career pathways and sector strategies in their work with youth? The method involved studying 29 workforce development boards’ approach to youth populations. We conducted semi‐structured, in‐depth qualitative interviews with 62 subjects. Thematic analysis was used to identify key findings related to sector strategies, utility of the career pathways concept, challenges in applying the pathways concept to youth populations, and impacts of coronavirus disease 2019. We identify next steps in policy and research to further support youth in attaining sustainable employment.