Retail health companies join coalition to create job opportunies for millennials

CHICAGO — CVS Health, Target, Walgreens and Walmart on Monday joined more than a dozen U.S.-based companies in forming the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, a coalition of companies committed to creating pathways to meaningful employment for millennials.  

 

“At CVS Health, we know that today’s youth are the business leaders, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and health care professionals of tomorrow," Larry Merlo, CVS Health president and CEO, said. "That’s why we’re focused on introducing young people to careers in health care and pharmacy, two significantly expanding fields, and ensuring that they are armed with the skills they need to achieve success in not only their careers, but also in life.” 

 

“For more than a century, Walgreens has grown its business on a tradition of recruiting young talent and building professional career paths that can take them to the company’s highest ranks,” Alex Gourlay, president of Walgreens, said. “We are proud to join with other great American brands to broaden opportunity for young men and women and provide access to the training, skills development and experience needed to build a strong workforce and growing economy.”

 

The coalition has the collective goal of engaging at least 100,000 Opportunity Youth — 16-24 year olds who face systemic barriers to jobs and education — by 2018 through apprenticeships, internships, training programs and both part-time and full-time jobs. Additionally, the coalition will leverage existing collaborative efforts on the ground in a handful of cities to partner in building these pathways. 

 

In the U.S. alone, there are currently 5.6 million youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who are out of school and not working. At the same time, there are 3.5 million unfilled jobs in the U.S. Jobs that do not require a four-year degree — sometimes called middle-skill jobs — make up the largest part of the labor market in the United States. For employers looking to fill these jobs, young, motivated workers are a vital and untapped resource.  However, young people are often unaware that these opportunities are available, and are equally unaware of the steps they need to take to pursue and secure these jobs. At the same time, employers often do not have clear strategies to effectively recruit, train and retain young workers. 

 

In response, the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative is committing to create the pathways young workers need to build skills, attain credentials and ultimately secure a job. Companies engaged in the coalition will help to launch careers for young people who are just entering the workforce through internships, apprenticeships and on the job training, as well as to develop the potential of youth who have some work experience but are looking to gain new skills that will lead to a successful career. These companies have joined together and are operating with the belief that with the right skills and training, Opportunity Youth represent an unrealized pipeline of talent and an economic engine that can be ignited.

 

The 100,000 Opportunities Initiative kicked off Monday here with the Opportunity Fair & Forum for Opportunity Youth, where the participating companies expected to collectively train more than 2,000 youth and make at least 200 on-the-spot job offers. The Forum was hosted by Academy Award winning performing artist and actor Common who led a discussion with more than 2,000 young people and their support networks focused on economic opportunity in America.

 

By partnering with local workforce leaders, the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative expects to hire at least 1,000 youth in the Chicago area over the next 18 months. Over the next 30 days, the coalition will continue to welcome the participation of new companies who share a commitment to hiring Opportunity Youth. 

 

In addition to the aforementioned four, the founding companies include Alaska Airlines, Cintas, Hilton Worldwide, HMSHost, JCPenney, JPMorgan Chase, Lyft, Macy’s, Microsoft, Porch.com, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Starbucks and Taco Bell.