Encouraging Employer Involvement in Youth Apprenticeship and Other Work-Based Learning Experiences for High School Students

Young people planning to enter the workforce may derive considerable benefit from school-supervised work-based learning programs such as youth apprenticeship. While many educators recognize the value of such experience, few employers have seemed enthusiastic about becoming involved in such programs. It is proposed that employer involvement in school-to-work transition could be enhanced by innovations in both governmental and non-governmental policies and programs. It is suggested that several dimensions be kept in mind when designing incentives: type of workplace, policy level, government versus non-government, size of participating employers, motivations of business participants, and rewarding existing programs versus building paths to partnership. Policy recommendations are made regarding tax credits, federal funding through JTPA, use of labor market projections, general student assessment, involvement of national business organizations, development of school and small business coalitions, and curriculum design.