Federal Resources

This document promotes innovative recommendations by the Secretary of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship on the use of Registered Apprenticeship as a solution to the nation’s workforce, economic, and education challenges. It also encourages state, regional, and local leaders and the public workforce system to use the vision report as a resource for supporting apprenticeship opportunities in their own communities.

The Department of Labor conducted an analysis that examines how the relationship between high school courses and college attendance may have changed between the late 1970s and the late 1990s. As time progressed, students began taking more rigorous coursework and that became a high predictor of who was likely to attend college. In the late 1970s, however, fewer students took advanced courses and the rigor of the courses did not seem to be a determining factor in college attendance. 

This blog post provides highlights from an interview with autism advocate, author, professor, and scientist Dr. Temple Grandin, in which she shares insights about autism, what parents can do to help their children, and the importance of learning life skills. 

This resource for adults and youth provides employment, training, and financial assistance for laid-off workers. It includes resources for getting immediate help with unemployment insurance, healthcare, and other financial needs; job searching and resume tips; changing careers and understanding transferable skills; and upgrading skills through education and training. It also provides career information and links to work-related services that help veterans and military service members successfully transition to civilian careers.

This best practices guide  funded in part under a grant/contract supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U. S. Department of Laborh and the Technology Opportunities Program of the U. S. Department of Commerce,
National Telecommunications and Information Administration aims to help communities to  start mentoring programs or expand a program to include youth with disabilities.

elaws-FLSA Child Labor Rules Advisor provides a comprehensive way to help you learn more about the minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor, and recordkeeping laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (DOL). Users can select information targeted at youth, parents, employers, and teachers on a variety of topics including the hour restrictions, prohibited occupations, enforcement, wages of youth, and exemptions that are laid out in the Fair Labor Standards Act.

This Guide was developed to help youth service professionals better understand issues related to learning disabilities so that they can help youth with learning disabilities develop individual strategies that will enable them to succeed in the workplace.

This news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides new data collected on the college enrollment and work activity of high school graduates in 2013. The news release reports that in October 2013, 65.9 percent of high school graduates in 2013 were enrolled in colleges or universities, and recent high school graduates who were not enrolled in college were more than twice as likely as enrolled graduates to be working or looking for work.

Provides an overview of programs funded by the Department of Labor focusing on youth. Offers a bi-weekly newsletter, announcements and potential funding opportunities, information for state and local partners, as well as information on the Federal Shared Youth Vision Partnership a collaborative effort serving the neediest youth.

Developed as part of the “What can YOU do?” initiative, The Department of Labor launched the “Because” public service announcement (PSA), which features stories of real people with disabilities who have been able to achieve their goals because of the positive support they received from caring adult mentors, such as parents, friends, employees, and teachers.

This webpage from the Office of Disability of the U.S. Department of Labor offers guidance on emergency preparedness at the workplace.

Released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment and Unemployment Among Youth—Summer 2014” provides a statistical overview of employed youth from April to July 2014. The data reflect an increase in youth employment compared with the same time frame in 2013. 

A new report from the Department of Labor on seasonal changes in youth employment indicates that the number of employed youth, 16 to 24 years old, increased by 2.1 million to 19.7 million between April and July. The share of young people employed in July was 50.7% in 2013.

This site provides information that you need as a young worker about state labor laws, workplace hazards, immigrant rights, child labor laws, and more. 

The Employment and Training Administration site provides information about summer youth jobs, the Workforce Investment Act, and other employment and training programs related to youth .

EEOC and multiple federal partners have released Recruiting, Hiring, Retaining, and Promoting People with Disabilities (PDF, 26 pages), a new guide for employers that compiles key federal and federally funded resources related to the employment of people with disabilities. 

The Wage and Hours Division of the Department of Labor provides information to help clarify the rules and restrictions for youth employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This page consists of an overview of the FLSA as well as a page with resources about child labor specifically. 

This tool from the CareerOneStop center provides opportunities for students to explore what their interests are, learn about potential careers, learn how to get job experience, and find educational opportunities to support career development.

This document, from the Department of Labor, provides information to young workers and practitioners that can help them connect young people with services. The guide contains information about programs at the state and local level.

The Guideposts for Success are a framework to assist the multiple organizations that need to be involved to meet the needs and improve the transition outcomes of all youth, including youth with disabilities. The guideposts discuss school-based services, career preparation, leadership opportunities, community services, and family involvement supports for youth with mental health needs. These documents were developed by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability, which is supported by funds from the Department of Labor.

This report from the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration describes the creation of the Indian and Native American Summer Youth Employment Initiative and how grantees used their Recovery Act funds to implement programs.

This joint letter from the Departments of Education, HHS, and Labor provides education, social services, workforce development, and private leaders with information about ways in which schools and human service agencies can work with the American Job Center network to ensure that students and families have relevant and timely information for making informed career decisions. 

This Training and Employment Notice shares the interagency support for ensuring students and parents have relevant and timely information to make informed career decisions. The notice is meant to encourage continued coordination and collaboration across systems of public workforce, adult basic education, career and technical education, and human and social services to prepare students for education and career paths

Job Corps is the nation's largest career technical training and education program for students ages 16 through 24.

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability, which is supported by the Department of Labor, features information on its website that answers the question, “What is an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP)?” Readers can learn when an ILP is used, what information it contains, and how students can use ILPs to map interests and goals as they relate to future education and employment opportunities.