NYEC Employer Engagement Blog
In June, the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) hosted a dynamic Employer Engagement Strategy Session as part of its Youth Champion Communities (YCC): Mayors Challenge Initiative. This virtual gathering brought together youth-serving practitioners, community leaders, and education and workforce stakeholders from across the country to explore how best to build sustainable, inclusive employer partnerships that uplift young people—particularly those disconnected from school or work.
What Is the Youth Champion Communities (YCC) Initiative?
The Youth Champion Communities framework equips cities and organizations to assess and transform how they support young people’s economic mobility. It offers a practical roadmap—across seven interconnected domains—for driving systemic change. These include collaborative youth ecosystems, living-wage employment, high-quality education, wraparound supports, and youth leadership.
YCC sites are leading the charge to ensure that employers are not only at the table—but are co-creators of long-term, inclusive workforce solutions.
“When we bring together youth-serving organizations and employers in shared dialogue, we begin to break down barriers and build the kind of trust that transforms local hiring ecosystems. That’s what Youth Champion Communities is all about” Marie Davis, Employer Engagement Advisor NYEC.
Key Takeaways from the June Workshop
- Employer Engagement Is a Mindset Shift
Rather than a transaction, engagement must be seen as a collaboration. Attendees were encouraged to learn about employers’ pain points and align services to those needs—offering workforce solutions, not just candidates.
- Pro-active Pipeline Development
Employers are often stuck in “post-and-pray” mode—placing job ads and hoping for responses. YCC leaders discussed the importance of proactive, early talent identification and partnerships that foster talent pipelines ready to meet evolving business needs.
- Shared Value Propositions for Employers and Providers
Participants identified several areas where mutual benefit can be found:
- Cost savings through reduced turnover and smarter hiring
- Improved brand recognition through youth-focused community partnerships
- Inclusive hiring practices that tap into new sources of emerging talent
- Data and Storytelling Drive Employer Buy-In
Using data like cost-per-hire, retention benchmarks, and program ROI—combined with youth success stories—equips community-based organizations to make a compelling case for employer investment.
- Removing Barriers Through Systems Thinking
Discussions highlighted barriers like transportation, lack of work permits, and training gaps. Through coordinated ecosystems, multiple stakeholders (including employers) can come together to co-design solutions that extend beyond a single hire.
What’s Next?
This session laid the groundwork for deeper engagement. In July, NYEC will host a follow-up session with employers at the table, offering them a chance to hear directly from YCC partners and youth leaders, and to learn what it means to become a Youth Champion Employer. Each YCC city will extend invitations to select employers and co-lead conversations that identify shared goals, barriers, and opportunities for sustained partnership.