Job Corps Works for
Taxpayers
As the economic recovery continues, policymakers cannot ignore the next workforce crisis on the horizon.
6.7 million (nearly 20%!) of American youth age 16-24 are neither in school nor employed.1
Each of these youth imposes an annual cost of $51,350 on taxpayers and society.2
Altogether, leaving these youth unaddressed costs taxpayers and society $344 billion each year!3
Job Corps is the nation’s most effective dropout recovery program
Job Corps is the nation’s most effective dropout recovery program
Estimated Lifetime Costs of Each Disconnected Youth
$1,014,140
Total Cost to Taxpayers4
$258,240
Total Cost to Society5
$755,900
Estimated Annual Cost Per Job Corps Enrollee
$33,100
POTENTIAL NET BENEFIT OF JOB CORPS SLOT
$981,040
Studies consistently find Job Corps to be the most effective national dropout recovery program, in part because it is the only program of its kind that relies on performance-based competition between private businesses, nonprofi ts, and federal agencies to continuously improve student outcomes and the program’s cost- effectiveness.
Huge Return On Investment
Last year, 75% of Job Corps’ nearly 50,000 enrollees entered employment or higher education after leaving the program. That could save taxpayers and society as much as $38 billion over their lifetimes! This amounts to a return of almost $23.00 for every $1.00 invested in Job Corps.
1 Belfield, Clive R., Henry M. Levin, Rachel Rosen. The Economic Value of Opportunity Youth. January 2012.
2 Ibid., 3 Ibid., 4 Ibid., 5 Ibid.
