Empowering Youth in the Workforce
SkillUp Coalition
Our non-profit helps workers find training, good-wage jobs, and high-growth careers that don't require a degree.
At SkillUp, we are proud to empower youth job seekers to explore meaningful career pathways. Since launching our youth-focused initiatives in November 2022, SkillUp has reached over 500,000 young individuals ages 16–24 and connected more than 17,000 to high-quality jobs and training programs.?
Our youth demographic now represents more than 30% of all SkillUp users, with 40,000+ new youth visitors connecting to the platform each month.
Key Youth Partnerships of 2024
Through meaningful collaborations with the Schultz Family Foundation , Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies , we've deepened our commitment to youth.?
We continue to prioritize real impact for our users, which has led to exciting integrations and collaborations:
Introducing Durable Skills for the Future Workforce
You can now find America Succeeds Durable Skills incorporated in our SkillUp Career Catalog, increasing awareness of skills-based learning and the skill-first movement for all users — especially youth looking to understand the importance of soft skills in today’s job market.
American Student Assistance (ASA) EvolveMe Integration
SkillUp resources were incorporated into the ASA EvolveMe platform, enabling users ages 13–18 to access career exploration tools, work style quizzes and training programs. This integration has expanded our reach to younger audiences, helping students explore nontraditional career pathways. Dive deeper:?
These partnerships reflect SkillUp’s dedication to equipping youth with the resources and skills to navigate non-degreed pathways to success.
What Young Users Engage With on SkillUp
Young users on SkillUp explore a wide range of resources and tools to help prepare them for the career pathways ahead — with a keen focus on technology careers, apprenticeships and remote jobs and training. Here’s what they engage with most:
Top Youth-Focused Content:
These insights reinforce our mission to create engaging, youth-friendly resources that help young job seekers explore their options.
Youth Engagement on the Rise
Youth users (ages 18–24) leverage the SkillUp platform more frequently and explore a broader range of resources, reflecting their career readiness and desire for learning.?
In 2024, we saw a dramatic increase in cross-catalog activity, with youth engagement across multiple catalogs rising by 120% and a staggering 200% increase in users interacting with all three catalogs — careers, training and jobs. Young users are increasingly taking advantage of the platform’s full range of offerings to plan their next steps.
SkillUp’s Careers Catalog saw a 19% increase in young users compared to the first half of 2024. Our Training Catalog experienced an 11% rise, while the Jobs Catalog, currently the most frequently visited catalog by youth, noted a 2% increase.?
As young folks continue to explore and engage with SkillUp’s platform, we remain focused on building tools that empower them to take charge of their future confidently and clearly.
What’s Next?
The year ahead promises even more exciting opportunities for SkillUp to empower youth. In 2025, we’ll build on the success of existing partnerships and expand our reach with new initiatives like the Make It Movement in Ohio and Wisconsin, launching in partnership with the Stand Together Foundation this summer.
Together with our partners and community, we are poised to elevate even more career pathways for job seekers. Let’s work together to build a brighter future—for one young worker at a time.
Connect with SkillUp?
Sign up to learn more and stay connected with the team at https://skillup.org/.
Save the Date: National Youth Employment Coalition Annual Conference
SkillUp is honored to share our participation in the upcoming National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) Conference on May 12, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN. Our session, Igniting Economic Mobility for Non-Degree Job Seekers via Durable Skills, will spotlight the critical role of durable skills and how they empower job seekers,? especially youth ages 16–24,? to achieve long-term career success.
Durable skills, such as critical thinking, communication, and leadership, are among the most in-demand competencies across industries. However, nearly 75% of employers report challenges finding candidates with these essential skills.?
In this session, we will share actionable insights, best practices, and strategies to address this skills gap while fostering economic opportunity for individuals skilled through alternative routes (STARs). We hope you’ll join us as we explore how SkillUp’s platform and training resources help bridge the gap between youth job seekers and the competencies needed to thrive in a skills-first workforce.
Recent Resources for STARs:
With positive leadership there are no limits.
1 个月Natalia Chekhovskaya Kearney