Katie Kapaun

Tell us about your background. 

I am a proud East Side Saint Paul resident. The beauty of Minnesota and the North Shore aided in my decision to attend the University of Minnesota Duluth where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Sociology. After returning to the Twin Cities, I began working for the Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps Center in Saint Paul, an incredible program serving youth in our community. My work at Job Corps inspired me to return to the University of Minnesota where I earned a Masters of Social Work and am licensed as an Independent Social Worker. I am passionate about helping people improve their personal skill sets and see the value in celebrating their wins and successes.

Share about your work at Job Corps. 

Job Corps is a free residential career training program for youth ages 16-24. It was founded in 1964 as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson Administration’s War on Poverty and is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps opened on July 15, 1981 on the former Bethel College campus. We have the capacity to serve 264 students and operate on a continuous enrollment model. We offer free career technical training in a variety of areas, support in academics leading towards skills improvement and/or high school diploma/equivalent, recognized industry credentials, driver’s licenses, and career supports. I have been part of the Job Corps team serving youth for the past 20 years. We are always recruiting young people to enroll and always seeking employer partners to help our young people find employment.

What are some of the most significant employment challenges for young people today? 

Young people looking for employment today display a significant skills gap compared to the previous youth we have served. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted today’s youth in the areas of interpersonal skills, soft skills, and independent living skills. Youth have become comfortable with utilizing technology as their primary form of communication and display challenges specifically with face-to-face interactions, dealing with conflicts, and how to use technology appropriately on the jobsite. Additionally, many of the youth have no previous work experience. They have not worked in teams, faced challenging customers, or had to problem solve situations on their own. Another challenge is transportation. Our students struggle with long waitlists for driver’s license testing. Without a valid license, students must navigate mass transit to get to work. 

Where do you see the most opportunities for youth and young adults entering the workforce at this time? 

For youth or young adults entering the workforce at this time there are so many opportunities to grow their skill set through apprenticeships, career technical training, and other community-based programs. As long as they understand the foundational skills of being a good employee, the opportunities to learn are available. Helping get the word out about these programs, to the youth, remains essential.