Written by
Christian Reed
,
Director of Young Adult Initiatives
The reality young adults are facing
Connecting young adults to real opportunities is an honor. Many of them have heard “no” more times than they can count. They do what they’re told to do. They run the job circuit. They search. They network. They attend resume workshops. They submit application after application. Then they hit the job market only to be met with silence or the all-too-familiar line: “Unfortunately, you are not a good fit.”
That reality came through clearly when we gathered at Collaboration for a Cause Youth in April 2025. We did not hear this feedback in a report or a meeting. We heard it directly from young adults, in their own words.
“I do not think anybody even looks at my resume.”
“I am doing everything I have been told I am supposed to do, and I still cannot find anything.”
Read the Report
Click the button below to read the full Young Adult Work Experience Program report.
What Opportunity Looks Like
This is exactly why Pierce County’s investment into our Young Adult Work Experience Program has mattered so much. These dollars did more than fund a program. They created a genuine on-ramp to opportunity. This funding opened doors for young adults to gain experience, build connections, and discover a clearer sense of the path they want to pursue.
Paid internships are often framed as short-term temporary income. And yes, the paycheck matters. For many young adults, it is their first paycheck, and their first chance to explore a career field they’ve never had access to. But the real impact is what happens beyond the wages. A paid internship gives a young adult the opportunity to prove to themselves, and to an employer, that they can do the job. It builds confidence through real work, real expectations, and real coaching.
It also offers something equally valuable: insight. Sometimes a young adult thinks a career will be a perfect fit, until they spend 90 days inside the environment, learning the culture, doing the work, and receiving feedback from professionals. That experience helps them make better decisions about what to pursue next, and what to walk away from. It’s a level of understanding you simply can’t get from a job description.
Countywide Impact, Backed by Support
Over the last 18 months, we placed more than 190 young adults into paid internships across Pierce County. More than 100 local businesses hosted an intern. This was not isolated to one neighborhood or one industry. This was countywide impact, powered by employers willing to invest in potential.
Just as important as the placement itself is the support behind it. Partners like Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region and Arriva Center for Arts and Technology provided career guidance, referrals, and wraparound services ensuring that young adults, especially those stepping into their first real job experience, didn’t have to navigate it alone. Career coaches helped participants manage uncertainty, build strong workplace habits, address barriers, and stay on track. That support system is a major reason the outcomes were so strong. Overall, the program saw a 70%+ retention rate into employment or postsecondary education.
From Risk to Readiness
For employers, paid internships also shift the conversation. We still hear the concern: “Young adults are a risk.” Some businesses want to wait for the perfect candidate who already has experience and credentials. But the reality is that young adults cannot gain experience without someone giving them a legitimate opportunity to earn it.
Internships reduce that perceived risk because they create proof.
- Recent work experience that shows up at the top of a resume
- A supervisor who can validate performance and work ethic
- A clearer match between the young adult’s interests and the role
- A stronger pipeline for employers who want to hire based on demonstrated fit, not guesswork
Why Experience Matters
There is a hard truth in today’s hiring market. Resumes often get a few seconds of attention. When a young adult’s resume is blank, it is easy for them to be overlooked. A paid internship changes that. It puts something real on the page. It gives young adults momentum, credibility, and a story they can confidently tell.
Thriving Through Opportunity
For young adults who feel stuck, unsure, or tired of being told “no,” a paid internship can be a powerful tool in their career journey. It delivers results. It builds confidence. It helps them learn what they want, and what they don’t want, before they spend years chasing the wrong direction.
And for our community, this is what it looks like to listen to young adult voices and respond with action. When public investment, employer partnership, and wraparound support come together, young adults do not just participate. They thrive.