Our young people form a major source of human capital for the future, and we cannot afford to leave this source undeveloped. The Youth Opportunity Movement will help bring at-risk youth into the economic mainstream. Unlocking the talents of youth is good public policy. It is good business. And it is vital to tapping into new markets throughout the United States.
Human capital is as critical to our success as investment capital.
Businesses having trouble finding skilled workers can testify to that - and so can disadvantaged communities. The mission of the Youth Opportunity Movement is to help all youth, particularly those most in need, to acquire the necessary skills and work experience to grow into successful adults and explore careers, further education and training. Ultimately, the Youth Opportunity Movement is designed to offer young people, particularly those most in need, the opportunity and the tools to succeed in the global economy of the 21 st century. Nearly 11 million young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are currently out of school, almost 4 million of whom do not have a high school diploma. High school dropouts in particular face serious obstacles, because research shows that less educated youth have more difficulty finding employment and are more likely to experience social problems such as crime, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy and welfare dependency.