Introduction to Job Corps

The U.S. Department of Labor offers programs, collectively called the Job Corps, to help students aged 16 to 24 obtain high school diplomas and GEDs, prepare for college and receive vocational training. These programs are free, and in many cases, provide students with stipends during their education. Additionally, most centers provide students with on-site housing. The programs are self-paced, meaning that students can spend anywhere between eight months and two years in the Job Corps.

The program has been helping young people for over forty years, and more than 2 million of them have received education and training that will enable them to be more independent and be employed at a high level than otherwise possible. In addition to providing education options for youth in low-income homes, it is considered an option for young people involved in cases of juvenile delinquency. However, at the time of enrollment in Job Corps, all individuals must be free from supervision, whether institutional or face-to-face. There is also a zero tolerance policy for Job Corps participants regarding violence and drugs.

There are specific eligibility requirements to enroll in Job Corps:

• Your age must be between 16 and 24.
• You must be a U.S. citizen. (There are certain exceptions for aliens with certain statuses.)
• You must meet certain income requirements and qualify for aid.
• You must be able and willing to participate in an educational environment.

The Job Corps offers an informational packet, if you call (800) 733-JOBS or (800) 733-5627. The operators at these numbers can also refer you to your nearest admissions counselor. The necessary application forms are also available online at the Job Corps website. If you are a minor, you will need parental consent to join the Jobs Corps.

The Job Corps has a number of centers in certain regions. Each region covers several states – for instance, the Albuquerque center is part of the Dallas region. These include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Once you join the Job Corps, you will spend approximately sixty days learning skills focusing on personal responsibility and job search skills. You will also create a personal career development plan. From there you will spend time developing technical skills, as well as learning about problem-solving and personal management.

Once a student has graduated, he or she can still receive support from the various Job Corps centers in issues regarding both job and home life.

While at a Job Corps center, you can study for over one hundred occupational areas, including:

• Bookkeeping
• Culinary arts
• Information technology
• Mechanics
• Welding
• Security and law enforcement
• Pharmacy technician
• Agriculture
• Health sciences
• Education

The Job Corps started in 1964, as a part of the Economic Opportunity Act. It was modeled on the Civilian Conservation Corps, a government-run program during the Great Depression intended to provide room, board and work for thousands of unemployed young people. The CCC was discontinued in the 1940s. During Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency, he introduced the Economic Opportunity Act as part of a set of legislation meant to end poverty, which also created the Head Start program.