CHILDHOOD: A SENSITIVE PERIOD FOR DEVELOPING WORKFORCE SKILLS
The FED Said
Investing in America’s Workforce: Improving Outcomes for Workers and Employers
Data show there is a sizable share of workers who have low skill and education levels. In 2016, 23.4 million adults aged 18 to 64 did not hold a high school degree or its equivalent—almost 12 percent of this age segment of the U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau 2016). Increas-ing the high school graduation rate and overall educational attainment levels of the workforce would increase the supply of skilled workers. Strategic investments in early childhood and youth development could go a long way toward meeting this goal.
All ages in childhood are vital for growth and development, but the early years and adolescence are particularly important, as highlighted in subsequent chapters by me and Rivera-Batista et al. During early child- hood, neural connections occur at a fast pace—more than a million per second in the infant brain. After the first few years of life, the pace of neural connection growth slows as the brain prunes some connections and reinforces others based on a child’s experiences. Brain develop- ment during this period provides the building blocks for future learning and development (Center on the Developing Child 2018). Adolescence represents a second period of brain malleability, starting with the onset of puberty and lasting as late as the mid-20s. Brain development dur- ing this period largely addresses executive function, which includes the capacity for self-regulation (Steinberg 2014). With support from par- ents, schools, and communities, adolescents are more likely to develop capacities and skills, including self-regulation, critical thinking, and planning, that lead to success in adulthood and the workforce.
Research also makes clear that adverse experiences in childhood, such as the stresses of growing up in poverty, exposure to abuse or neglect, and household dysfunction, such as an incarcerated parent or parental mental illness, can impair healthy development, with implications that can last a lifetime (Dong et al. 2004). Children who arrive at kindergarten behind their peers tend to stay behind, and children without support to navigate the challenges of adolescence are at risk of not acquiring important work and life skills.
Ensuring children have a strong start and have continued support for development through adolescence benefits all of society; its benefits include reduced costs in public budgets for education, health, human services, and crime, as well as the potential for higher tax revenue. Healthy child development also leads to a more productive workforce and a better chance for employers to find the skilled workers they need to fill open positions.
