ready workforce,” Clark says. “We know that more than half of U.S. employers say that their biggest obstacle to growth is a lack of qualified candidates with soft skills. And more than 75 percent of youth express concerns about whether they have the skills necessary to secure a job.”
EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP In 2017, BGCA partnered with the retailer Gap Inc. for This Way Ahead, a program to train, mentor and hire youth ages 16-24 for first-time jobs at the company’s stores. The program is meant to give “young people — especially those facing barriers to employment — an opportunity for a first job,” according to David Ard, senior vice president for Gap Inc.
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“A first job is an important milestone in every person’s life,” Ard said in testimony to the U.S. Ways and Means Committee last year. “For many young people, especially those with limited opportunities, it can be life-changing and shape an individual’s prospects for the future.” The company plans to hire 5 percent of all new entrylevel store employees from the program by 2025. To be eligible for This Way Ahead, BGCA members must first complete club workforce development programs, where they learn about interpersonal skills, work ethic, customer service, career options and financial literacy, says Terri Fishback, BGCA senior director of youth development strategy. Club mentors collaborate with
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