Young adults entering today’s workforce have grown up in a world shaped by profound challenges and rapid change. From living through a global pandemic to witnessing social unrest following the deaths of George Floyd and Louisville’s own Breonna Taylor, many have also carried the personal weight of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in their own lives, like growing up in poverty or unstable home life conditions. These experiences don’t disappear when they clock in; they shape how young people show up at work, what support they need, and how they define success.

In response, KentuckianaWorks has partnered with Bounce Coalition, Metro United Way, Blueprint502, The Spot, and others to listen directly to young adults and employers. Together, we’re exploring how to build workplaces that meet this generation where they are: creating environments that are more supportive, trauma-informed, and ultimately, more equitable for everyone

What did we hear from young adults and employers?

Over the last few months, psychologist Tony Zipple helped lead focus groups with young adults and employers to hear about their experiences, challenges, advice, and needs first-hand. On the young adult side, a few clear themes emerged: 

  • The need for genuine human connection and understanding in the workplace. This includes managers who are supportive and value their co-workers as individuals. 
  • The importance of work connecting to a bigger purpose and contributing to the community in a meaningful way.

The employers who participated talked about ways they are trying to better support their young adult workers. Examples include:

  • Investing in supervisors so that they can stay engaged with young adult workers and understand their needs. 
  • Having end-of-day check-ins with workers to hear from them about how they’re doing, including what they’re learning and whether they feel safe.
  • Developing an onboarding experience that is thoughtful and inclusive from the start. 
  • Making sure young adults who are interested in leadership are aware of those opportunities and getting the training and preparation they need to take advantage of them in the future.
  • Being aware of barriers young adult workers may be facing, including transportation challenges.

Supporting and Informing New Managers

In collaboration with our partners, we are designing a training course for managers that gives them the tools to support young people at their organization and to get the best out of them. The content is based on input we received from multiple focus groups with young adults and employers, as well as expertise from the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and their Trauma-Informed Approach to Workforce.

Get Involved!
We’re excited to embark on this journey and create a resource that truly transforms workplaces. Stay tuned for updates, and if you’re interested in piloting a training, please reach out! Together, we can build better futures for young adults.

This project is made possible through funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and their Generation Work™ initiative.