Year Up is a national workforce training program for economically disadvantaged urban young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 that focuses on specific economic sectors with jobs in high demand—namely, information technology (IT) and financial services (hence the program’s classification as a “sectoral” training program). The program seeks to enroll young adults who have a high school diploma or equivalent but are neither in school full-time nor employed full-time, have manageable life challenges, and are motivated to succeed.

The program operates in two six-month phases. In the first phase, participants attend full-time training in IT and financial services. The training emphasizes the development of professional skills (e.g., writing, giving presentations, business etiquette) as well as technical skills (e.g., IT, quality assurance, financial operations). The second phase consists of a full-time internship in entry-level positions at local employers, often major firms. The program provides extensive supports, including weekly stipends to help cover transportation and other living costs (typically $150 per week during the training phase and $220 per week during the internship phase), mentoring, and post-program job search and placement services. In addition, Year Up partners with local colleges to enroll participants as students and award them college credit for successful completion of Year Up courses.

The cost of the program is about $28,290 per participant, most of which ($16,700, or 59%) is borne by employers through payments to Year Up for interns.

Year Up’s website is linked here.