The proposed elimination of the Job Corps program from the FY2026 budget proposal poses an incredible threat to the safety and security of America’s youth and young adults.
25,000 Students Aged 16-24 Will Be Immediately Displaced Nationwide
For many students Job Corps is a “game changer” and safe haven. Job Corps has provided residential education and vocational training for students aged 16 to 24. Kaylee Lynch, a 22-year-old student at the San Jose Job Corps Center expressed her fear of homelessness by saying, “I have a hard background where I was couch-surfing for two years prior to coming to Job Corps. So, for me, it puts me in a mentality of somewhere I don’t want to be again.”1 Her comments reflect her deep anxiety and concern about facing homelessness once more after the sudden closure of the Job Corps center, which provided her with both housing and educational support. Students at the San Jose California center were abruptly informed they must vacate by June 6th, leaving many fearful of homelessness.
Job Corps Has A Proven Track Record of Contributing To The American Workforce
With a 60-year history of demonstrating remarkable value and providing life skills for students, Job Corps has a proven record of:
- Significantly increasing participants' employment rates and wages
- Reducing reliance on public benefits
- Providing vital training for in-demand trades and industries
Labor market trends indicate a critical shortage in qualified candidates to fill the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow. Job Corps plays an essential role in bridging this gap by providing targeted training for jobs that require skills beyond a high school diploma but not necessarily a college degree.
The program serves as a crucial pathway for At Promise Youth ages 16-24, offering:
- Vocational training in essential trades
- GED and high school diploma completion
- Career readiness skills
- Support services that enable successful transition to the workforce
Eliminating Job Corps would:
- Disrupt the education and training of thousands of young Americans
- Worsen the existing skilled labor shortage
- Remove a proven pathway to economic self-sufficiency for opportunity youth
- Impact communities nationwide that benefit from Job Corps graduates' contributions
How Can You Help?
- Contact your local congress person and urge them to not support cutting funding for Job Corps, and the immediate reinstatement of the program. Read Our Letter To Congress
- Contact Job Corps to ask how you can be of assistance to displaced youth in your area. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/contact
- Kaylee Lynch, a San Jose based Job Corps student, has started a GoFundMe for displaced students. (Please note that RAPSA is not responsible for the management of this fundraiser.)