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For Youth Experiencing Homelessness, New Study Finds Those Who Complete High School More Likely to Be Working
A new study from Covenant House and MDRC found that for youth experiencing homelessness, among those who had completed high school, 57% were employed, compared with 46% of youth who did not complete high school. Of those who had some college, 61% were employed. Youth who had attended college or taken courses that led to industry certifications reported feeling slightly more prepared for work than those who had not.
The study, entitled “From Surviving to Thriving: Youth Perspectives on Navigating Homelessness and the Labor Market,” surveyed 406 young adults using Covenant House services in 17 U.S. cities. Respondents were asked about their educational and work histories, job and career aspirations, experiences with obstacles and barriers, and existing supports and strengths toward a fruitful life.
Other implications from the research include that young people have clear aspirations; youth were largely employed in low-paying sectors like food service, which were reported to be less fulfilling and misaligned with their career aspirations; experiencing homelessness and living in poverty can create complex and interrelated obstacles for young people searching for and trying to maintain jobs; discrimination represents one of the most common obstacles to employment; and encouraging relationships and program supports can help young people. Read the study here.
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