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Sarah Johnston
Sociology / History

Ken Hudson, Mentor

Training for Disadvantaged Youth: Aspiration and Success Among Job Corps Participants

Job Corps was developed in the 1960s as part of the War on Poverty. Although various changes have occurred since its inception, the objective of the program has remained the same. The Job Corps seeks to provide economic opportunity for disadvantaged youth by way of educational and vocational training. This research effort will attempt to ascertain whether the Job Corps is succeeding in meeting its objective. This study seeks to determine the type of jobs and occupations to which Job Corps participants aspire as well as the kind of jobs and occupations for which they are being trained. By exploring the various educational and vocational training options available to participants, this research evaluates the extent to which Job Corps training provides its students with an opportunity for economic advancement.