Pennsylvania Needs to Invest in Youth Workforce Development

Pennsylvania is evolving, and our workforce development system needs to adapt to this change.

For years, there have been flashing red lights on Pennsylvania's demographic dashboard. Our population is aging, and retiring workers are not being replaced by new workers quickly enough. It's leaving employers understaffed.

Beyond that, there is a mismatch between the skills leaving the workforce and the skills entering the workforce. It’s an imbalance that threatens our broader economy if Pennsylvania doesn't focus on solving the gap between retiring workers and young talent.

But what’s happening with Pennsylvania's population and workforce, and how can we address it? Over the years, Pennsylvania's youth population has largely remained stable or experienced slight growth. However, while the youth population has remained relatively stable, the number of individuals in the retirement age group has more than doubled since 1990.

It has created an inversion of the ratio between young individuals and those of retirement age. We might see a growing population in Pennsylvania and think that we're well-positioned, but due to the imbalance between young and retired workers, the youth segment now represents a shrinking portion of the total population.

The population imbalance is already making it more difficult for employers, and it will only worsen. Employers will face greater challenges in building a strong talent pipeline. They will struggle to meet their staffing needs and drive growth. The skills and knowledge that retiring workers bring to the workforce will leave without being replaced.

We need to work harder than ever to ensure the next generation is trained and ready to fill the jobs that retiring Pennsylvanians are leaving behind. If we leave young people on the sidelines as our population ages, our Commonwealth and our economy will stagnate and struggle.

The good news is that Pennsylvania does not exhibit a concerning brain drain or net loss of youth, as the data show that the Commonwealth gains as much talent as it loses through migration. However, migration is highly concentrated in urban areas. Nearly half of all youth live in just two MSAs – Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – while rural areas hold only 15.6% of the youth population.

We already have some programs in place that will help train young people for jobs in their communities. Importantly for young people, open jobs mean opportunities.

However, it’s up to the workforce system and our elected officials to train and engage youth in these opportunities and help them enter the workforce.

Currently, investing in youth workforce development isn’t only the right thing to do but also an economic necessity to sustain our Commonwealth's future.

How do we do it?

Our study on the youth workforce reveals that a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective. We need flexible, locally driven solutions to connect young people to opportunities, especially in rural and underserved areas. Pennsylvania's workforce boards are ready to lead but need sustained support.

We need investments in workforce development that are specific to young people. Whether it’s a summer jobs program or skills training alongside a high school curriculum, Pennsylvania needs to redouble its efforts to make sure young people have the skills they need to step into the jobs that retirees are vacating.

Strengthening connections between local employers, educators, and Local Workforce Development Boards will be key to building a resilient talent pipeline. Now, more than ever, workforce development is a key component of economic development. We need a whole-system effort to ensure we’re responsive to employers and able to react and upskill young people quickly. Workforce development challenges and opportunities vary significantly across different regions. Local boards are well-positioned to respond, but doing so effectively will require flexible and sustained federal and state investment to tailor programs that meet youth where they are.

That means we need good, timely data. We’re hopeful that the Pennsylvania legislature will pass #FreetheData, which will provide our workforce systems with employment and workforce data that will help them determine which programs and interventions are effective and how best to serve young people and employers in their communities.

Pennsylvania’s demographic changes present opportunities for young people to drive economic growth and build good careers in our Commonwealth as retirees leave jobs and create new openings.

But if the Commonwealth does not take intentional action to invest in youth workforce development and provide the underlying data to improve the programs that train young people, we are at great risk of falling behind.

Let’s ensure that we provide every opportunity for young people in Pennsylvania to thrive and build great lives and careers right here at home. We need to provide our workforce boards with the funding and tools to do what they do best: train young people and connect them to good jobs in their communities. We’ll all benefit from a youth-focused workforce effort through stronger economic growth, more resilient communities, and a thriving Commonwealth.