Two things are true in today’s economy: 1) Young adults are the fastest-growing group of workers, so it’s important to include their voices and perspectives in decisions that impact the workforce; and 2) employers have a vested interest in retaining high-quality employees and improving their employees’ productivity. In the past, though, many employers developed strategies to address these two issues without formally engaging youth workers in the process.

These two tipsheets are designed to help workforce development program staff facilitate proactive, constructive conversations between employers and young adult employees. One tipsheet shares insights tailored for employers who interact with young workers in committees, focus groups, or other group meetings or projects, while the other is tailored for use with young workers in the same settings.