Opportunity Youth
Unlocking Opportunity for Young People and Their Employers
Overview
55%
of employers that have a formal opportunity youth hiring program report difficulties filling open roles, compared with 71% of other companies.
77%
of HR professionals who have worked with opportunity youth report they perform as well as or better than other employees.
71%
of employers who have worked with opportunity youth report that their experiences have been positive.
All statistics from From Social Good to Strategic Talent Advantage: The Business Case for Hiring Opportunity Youth (SHRM).
As employers seek to build inclusive, high-performing workplaces, many are looking beyond traditional talent pipelines to find untapped potential. One such group gaining attention is opportunity youth: young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not currently in school or participating in the labor market.
Despite facing systemic barriers to employment, opportunity youth bring energy, adaptability, and a drive to succeed. As outlined in From Social Good to Strategic Talent Advantage: The Business Case for Hiring Opportunity Youth, a research report commissioned by SHRM Foundation in partnership with Walmart, employers play a critical role in advancing inclusion, breaking cycles of incarceration, and unlocking long-term economic mobility by providing meaningful career opportunities to this overlooked population.
SHRM Foundation helps employers engage opportunity youth by providing research, tools, and practical guidance to build inclusive talent strategies that support hiring, development, and long-term career success for this untapped workforce.
The Business Case for Opportunity Youth
There are nearly 4.7 million opportunity youth in the United States, representing 12% of all 16 to 24-year-olds in the country. Hiring opportunity youth is a smart talent strategy, given their untapped potential and their eagerness to work, learn, and grow.
Organizations that engage this workforce benefit in several key ways:
Stronger Talent Pipelines
Employers with formal programs to recruit and hire opportunity youth are significantly less likely to report hiring challenges. Just 55% of these employers face staffing shortages, compared to 71% without such programs.High Performance and Potential
Opportunity youth consistently prove themselves when given a chance. 77% of HR professionals say these employees perform as well as or better than others and 71% report positive experiences working with opportunity youth.Innovation and Energy
These young workers bring a fresh perspective—often identifying opportunities to improve systems and processes that others may overlook. Their tech-savviness and optimism contribute meaningfully to team culture and business performance.
In Employers’ Own Words
"One memorable experience involved a young individual who joined our organization as an opportunity youth. They were initially shy and lacked confidence but displayed a strong desire to learn and grow. Over time, with mentorship and support, they blossomed into a skilled and compassionate health care professional, making a positive impact on our team and the patients they served. This transformation highlighted the potential for growth and success when given the right opportunities and support."
—HR Professional, Healthcare Industry
"They are so technically and digitally savvy that they often see ways to improve processes and procedures we don’t see because we’ve been stuck in the status quo. They have wonderful energy, they see life as an infinite opportunity, and they contribute to our company culture and the future of our business."
—HR Professional, Professional/Technical/Scientific Services Industry
Research
From Social Good to Strategic Talent Advantage: The Business Case for Hiring Opportunity Youth
This report highlights strategies for integrating young adults aged 16-24, who are disconnected from education and employment, into the workforce to address talent shortages and foster economic growth.
Published by SHRM Foundation
Cross-System Collaborative Approaches to Promote Workforce Development for Youth with Justice Involvement
This compilation examines how cross-system collaboratives—spanning juvenile justice, workforce development, and related systems—can effectively work together to improve employment outcomes for justice-impacted youth, identifying key success factors, challenges, and case examples to guide local implementation.
Published by the National Youth Employment Coalition
A Case for More Youth Justice Programming
This paper analyzes juvenile justice data to explore how, despite the system’s rehabilitative intent, rising incarceration rates and overcrowded facilities signal missed opportunities to divert more youth into community-based programs that support positive outcomes over punishment.
Published by Big Thought
Resources and Tools
Opportunity Youth Data Resource Hub
Explore a curated collection from the National Youth Employment Coalition of national and local data resources focused on opportunity youth to inform policy, practice, and systems change.
Fact Sheet on Opportunity Youth
A framework and pilot initiatives developed by Persevere and focused on preventing justice system involvement among opportunity youth by creating career pathways, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and addressing systemic barriers to economic mobility.
Opportunity Youth Playbook
The Forum for Youth Investment’s Opportunity Youth Playbook is a toolkit with actionable strategies to help employers and community organizations design and implement effective opportunity youth programs.
Funders and Partners Funders
Join us in recruiting, hiring, and retaining America’s opportunity youth!