Workforce preparation activities are designed specifically for youth who have not yet entered the workforce or have had part-time jobs. Workforce preparation activities offer solutions to communities’ concerns about and desires for an economically secure, sustainable future. Employers across the country are having difficulty finding qualified workers as young people continue to enter the workforce without the skills needed in an increasingly demanding, technology-oriented economy.

Successful workforce preparation initiatives require strong community partnerships—a collaboration of all stakeholders. Businesses, schools, labor groups, youth, parents, and both public and private agencies working together is vital to developing and sustaining a comprehensive workforce preparation system.

Workforce preparation activities help young people learn about the world of work by engaging in real-life activities and simulations that help them explore career options. Students acquire skills and knowledge about future job opportunities as a result of the educational activities. The goal of this effort is to help connect classroom learning with career preparation so that students can make informed career decisions. Workforce preparation activities are appropriate for all levels of education and adaptable to meet individual community needs.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System offers a variety of workforce preparation programs that enhance or enrich existing classroom efforts.

These programs include:

1. Expanding Horizons—Provides rising high school juniors an opportunity to experience potential career paths in high tech careers within local businesses and industries. This program requires a collaborative effort between local businesses and industries, school systems and post-secondary institutions.
2. Surviving Life—This interactive game-style simulation gives high school students a chance to experience lifestyle and budget choices similar to those adults face on a daily basis. Young people readily become involved in this active, hands-on simulation.
3. Career Fair—Creates an opportunity for upper middle and high school students to talk with individuals from a variety of career clusters about educational requirements, job possibilities, working conditions and salary potential.
4. Interview Day—Allows high school seniors to be interviewed for mock jobs and receive feedback on their interview technique by local human resource professionals. Requires a collaborative effort between local high schools and business and industry.
5. Teacher-Industry Tours—Connects schools to local business and industry by taking teachers on a tour of local establishments. Teachers have an opportunity to learn about job expectations and requirements within their community. This activity can be expanded to include job shadowing and work experience.
6. Career Explorium—Exposures high school students to existing jobs, some of which may be obscure, within the local area and region. Students tour local business and industry, interview business owners including entrepreneurs, and gain information about possible careers in the local area. This two-day program may be expanded and include service learning and community mapping activities.
7. K-12 Career Exploration—Series of individual lessons and activities tailored to meet needs identified by schools. This program offers students an opportunity to transition from school to work, beginning with preschool and continuing through the twelfth grade; it may incorporate some of the other programs described above.