Southern Essex Workforce Investment Board

Youth Employment: Opportunity and Opinion

Project 2001-2002

Sources

Youth Survey- M.V. Dunn. July 2001Employment Issues in Southern Essex

County: The Voices of Youth- Suzanne M. Buglione and Suzanne Singh, Center for Community Economic Development, University of Massachusetts August 2001

The Southern Essex Regional Labor Market: A Blueprint- Center for Community And Economic Development, University of Massachusetts 2000

Youth Survey

Objective of survey to gather information from area youth regarding:

• Present Employment• Future Career Interests• Educational Interests• Recreational Interests• Adult Role Models• Career Preparation

Regional Industries

Critical Industry

•Construction•Health Care•Manufacturing•Retail Trade•Personnel Supply Services

Emerging Industry

•Computer and Data Processing•Telecommunications•Financial Services

Youth Survey

•517 Youth (ages 15-19)

•Self-administered Survey

•Random sample in school sophomores and juniors (365) and out of school youth (152)*

•Administered April through June 2001

*High school graduates not heading to post secondary fall 2001

Youth Survey

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

In School (365) Out of School (152)

9th

10th

11th

12th

Youth Survey

17

18

1915

16

Years Of Age

Female: 50.8%

Male: 49.2%

Youth Survey

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

City/Town

Salem

Lynn

Peabody

Danvers

Gloucester

Beverly

Saugus

Ipswich

Marblehead

Middleton

Youth SurveyParticipating High

SchoolsBeverlyDanversGloucesterHamilton-Wenham RegionalIpswichLynn EnglishMasconomet RegionalMarblehead

North Shore Vocational TechnicalPeabody Veterans MemorialSalemSaugus

Youth programs: Catholic Charities of LynnGirls, Inc of Lynn

Youth Survey

Employment Status

• 89.1% indicated that they had been employed over the past year (9/00 –6/01).

• 88.8% said they worked over the summer 2000.

Youth Survey

Job and Career Interest• 24.6% indicated that their current

job was in a field that they were interested in as a career.

• 70.2% said they had a career interest at this time.

Youth SurveyCareer Interests

22.4% Computer

17.4% Financial Services

16.8% Healthcare

16.1% Education

13.3% Law

10.8% Manufacturing

9.9% Retail

6.4% Construction

Youth SurveyInformation on Careers

• 54.5% indicated that they had received information on how to choose a career

• 38.9% indicated that they had received information on what careers were most promising

• 42.4% said they had received information on what careers were most available.

Youth SurveyInformation on Careers

Where did they get this information?

72.9% reported that family members were the most prevalent channels for discussions regarding careers.

Youth SurveyParticipation in Career

Orientation• 24.8% had participated in a “job

shadow day”

• 17.4% said they had gone to a career fair

Youth SurveyCollege Plans

404 of the respondents said they would like to go to college.

• 9.2% 2-year

• 61.2% 4-year

• 29.6% unsure which type

42.3%of these youth had visited a college

Youth SurveyRecreational Activities

• Almost 70% of the youth reported that they are involved in some activity for fun.

• 40.7% said they read for enjoyment more than one hour a week.

Youth SurveyAdult Role Models

Parents are most prevalent adult role models

Counselors/teachers and school contacts, friends of parents, coaches, religious leaders and neighbors were also identified as role models.

Youth Survey

Self Perception Regarding Career Future

• Over 90% felt that they would make good choices about employment in the future

• And 66.2% felt that they were doing a good job planning ahead

Youth Survey

82% of the youth felt that there is a

connection between doing well in

school and having a successful

career.

Youth Survey

87% said they LIKE being part of a team.

Youth Survey

• Students reported that they felt parents expected (88%) and cared (92.2%) that they would do well in school.

• They also felt that teachers (80.3%) expected them to do well with (67.6%) reporting that they thought teachers cared if they did well.

Youth Survey

Computer Access

• Students report access to computers at school and at home (slightly over 80%).

• Students use computers for work and/or school work the most (83.4%) and games and talking to friends (64%).

“The Voice of Youth”

Focus group results2001

Focus Groups

Focus Group Participants:

70 youth in total33% Minority76% In School44% EmployedAge Range: 14 - 21

Focus Groups

Location Total #

GenderM/F

In School

Salem Career Center

9 4/5 7

Sterling YMCA 10 6/4 10

McPherson Youth Center

13 10/3

Compass 22 12/10 10

Girls, Inc 16 1/15

Focus Groups

Focus Groups asked the following questions:1. How do youth perceive opportunities

within the critical and emerging industries?

2. What are the factors that hinder youth employment in the region?

3. How can the community respond to the employment needs of area youth?

Focus GroupsCritical and Emerging

Industries

ConstructionThree groups felt strongly that this was

not a good industry because employment was inconsistent and work was difficult. Factors influencing this included weather conditions, seasonal employment, hours and “hard on the body”.

Critical and Emerging Industries

Construction Continued:Two groups felt that construction was a good

industry for people who owned their own construction companies.

One group felt that the industry was not accessible to women.

Another group indicated that construction was a good job because you got to work outdoors, work with your hands and it was fun, “honest” work with a tangible product.

Focus GroupsCritical and Emerging

IndustriesHealthcare

Two groups felt it was an underrated industry, but was worthwhile because employees “helped others”.

Two groups reported no interest in working in this industry because of:

• low pay• repetitive work• risk of HIV• Risk of getting sued if you mess up• indoor work

Focus GroupsCritical and Emerging

Industries

Healthcare Continued:Youth mentioned concerns about

access to health care for all people (insurance restrictions etc) AND limited career ladder options for advancement (only saw doctor and nurse as advanced jobs and these required education that was costly).

Focus GroupsCritical and Emerging

IndustriesManufacturing

Four of the groups described this field as:Hard physical work

• Dangerous• Hours are bad• Stressful and repetitive work

Some participants felt that the “money was good” and others weren’t sure.

Concerns that the industry was not stable because companies were going out of business were expressed.

Focus GroupsCritical and Emerging

IndustriesTemp Work

The majority of youth felt that temp work wasn’t desirable because there is no security, no benefits and is “tough work”.

However some acknowledged that Temp Work could be used to gain experience and act as a stepping stones.

There was some unsureness of the nature and compensation of this type of work.

Focus GroupsCritical and Emerging

IndustriesRetail

Also seen as a “stepping stone” industry towards future career goals possibly in tantum with college.

Comments about the retail industry included:– boring– dishonest– hard work– with positions being fazed out by technology– Jobs NOT careers

Focus GroupsCritical and Emerging

IndustriesComputers/Data Processing

Two of the groups recognized the future of this industry on the north shore.

The majority of participants felt that jobs in this industry are boring and that there are too many people in the field causing competition (mainly internet).

The Salem Career Center focus group acknowledged this as a positive industry to get training in, that paid well and was fun.

Focus GroupsCritical and Emerging

IndustriesTelecommunications

The participants were unclear as to what this industry involved and the majority reported that they are not interested in this industry.

Youth felt there were jobs available in this industry and only required limited training.

They recognized the importance of communication skills and patience.

Focus GroupsCritical and Emerging

IndustriesFinancial/Web-Based Banking

Again, the majority of the participants were unclear as to what this industry consisted of. After explanation, the youth expressed a lack of trust in computerized banking.

Two groups felt that there were good jobs available, but they weren’t interested in them.

Focus GroupsQualities of a “Good Job”

Most frequent qualities included:• Money• Respect• Flexible Hours• Making a Difference in the Community• Fun (getting satisfaction from work)To Get a “Good Job”:• Continue education, including college• Getting Experience in a Field• Networking and Talking to People in Field• Setting Goals• Getting Specific Training• Doing Volunteer Work

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Lack of understanding of the Critical and Emerging Industries

• Confused as to the nature.• Could not see the wide array of

careers available within the industries.

• Focused on the low-level or high-level occupations exclusively.

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Lack of Support for College• Need for support with financial aid.• “Fitting in” and making college

decisions.

“I visited a college and felt so out of place” Lynn Girls Inc. Participant

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Employers Perception of Youth Employees

• Youth felt their experiences were not recognized and that employers were not interested in hiring youth.

• Youth also felt they needed to be able to get more skills (computer skills were mentioned) to be more marketable.

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Society’s Perception of YouthYouth felt they were discriminated

against due to their age, sex and socioeconomic status.“They don’t want youth-they want people with experience” Compass

participant

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Human Resource Concerns• Often need to work past 10:00 pm.• Minimum or low wages.• Pay didn’t match hours worked.

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Need for Summer Employment• Some youth reported this was the

only time they could work due to extra curricular activities during the school year.

• They also said some employers were hesitant to hire youth for only the summer and wanted a commitment beyond the summer.

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Child Care

One youth from Gloucester mentioned the lack of child care as an obstacle to employment.

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Transportation

Many of the participants mentioned the lack of transportation as an obstacle to employment and accessing college.

“You need to be able to walk or get rides from parents” Sterling Center YMCA

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Need to Network and Make Connections

Youth perceived employment as “political” dependent on who you know versus what you know.

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Economics of the Region

Youth saw limitations with the job market in the region which they attributed to a slowing economy.

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Lack of Skills, Training and Experience

• Some felt they couldn’t get jobs because they didn’t have experience.

• Lacked skills such as computer and communication skills needed to gain employment.

• Lacked career planning and development skills.

Focus GroupsChallenges and Barriers

Lack of Support

Youth expressed anxiety about the future, needed mentoring and issues regarding self-esteem, drugs and peer pressure.

“..friends with nothing to do but hang out” (interfere with employment) participant from Compass, Gloucester

Researchers Recommendations for

Community ResponsesRecommendations from the research

team:• Offering efficient public transportation.• Training programs for youth including

goal setting, college and financial aid, computers, communication skills, job skills, job readiness and understanding of career pathways.

• Employer training regarding hiring youth, HR issues and support.

Researchers Recommendations for Community Responses

Recommendations cont.• Education and outreach for youth including

information and guidance regarding potential careers in the critical and emerging industries.

• Education and outreach for parents as sources for career and college information and support.

• Internships and volunteer opportunities to gain specific work experience.

• Mentors with commitment to sustained involvement for youth.