For over fifty years, Job Corps has been the nation’s largest career technical training and education program for young people ages 16 through 24.

When it was established in 1964, the Los Angeles Job Corps Center, with the YWCA Greater Los Angeles as its continuous corporate contractor, was one of the initial centers to open.

Job Corps works because our graduates work:

While enrolled, students are provided with career technical trainings, improved academic skills, high school diplomas, driver’s licenses, certifications, social skills and employability skills that allow them to qualify for careers, employment and college. This is supported with nutritious meals, housing, recreation, clothing, transportation, counseling and health care. All services are free.

Recently, as a result of federal budget cuts, Job Corps has faced some significant challenges. Although we are still strong in training and academics, we like other centers were required to reduce staff and students by over 20%. Even amidst the challenges, Los Angeles Job Corps continues to provide quality service and excellent end results.

The YWCA Greater Los Angeles, under the leadership of Faye Washington, has been very supportive and solution driven. With corporate assistance, Los Angeles Job Corps is partnering to establish an X Ray Technician training program by 2014. The funding for the NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) classes, that teach students to own and operate their own businesses, has also been provided. With the support of the YWCA Greater Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Job Corps is building a business employer pipeline to allow employers to do direct recruitment from the skilled population. Los Angeles Job Corps continues to train for jobs and place students in employer work based learning assignments to allow the employer to validate job readiness.

Through these challenging times, Los Angeles Job Corps has remained strong. As students graduate, 90% are placed prior to exit. This means they must be employed, continuing education or signed up for the military service. At the Los Angeles Job Corps, we are proud of the fact that we rank in the top 20% of centers nationally. This is especially outstanding because the center is operated by a single center contractor and a nonprofit. Through the guidance of the YWCA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles Job Corps helps shape well-rounded, future employees who are focused, professional and job-ready to positively impact our community.