In Massachusetts’ knowledge and innovation economy, skills are critical to our collective success as a Commonwealth. From the perspective of the state’s businesses, the way to remain competitive in a global economy is to continually adapt to niches in the marketplace and offer high quality products and services. That requires skilled, educated workers. From the perspective of our state’s young people, the majority of occupations that offer sufficient wages and benefits to support a family require at least one to two years of post-secondary education or training.  

Commonwealth Corporation’s Youth and Young Adult Pathways Initiatives are designed to expand learning and career development opportunities for youth. Our goal is to enable young people to make successful transitions to adulthood and become vital contributors to their communities. While working on behalf of all youth, we are especially interested in serving those who are at risk of not completing high school, entering post-secondary education or training, or acquiring the skills necessary for success in the demanding, high-skills economy of the twenty-first century.  

Commonwealth Corporation's Youth and Young Adult Pathways team works by gathering, refining and disseminating research, best practices, cutting edge concepts, training and technical assistance about youth and their readiness to engage in the work force.  To do so, we incorporate the following strategic priorities into all of our work:

• Supporting Effective Youth Employment Strategies
• Building Multiple Education and Employment Pathways
• Employing a Positive Youth Development Approach