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While plenty of people are familiar with Service and Conservation Corps, far fewer know that these programs can serve as onramps for young people to access well-paying, in-demand infrastructure jobs. That’s why we’re busting the biggest myths about service-to-workforce opportunities — and sharing how Corps programs help generate a skilled talent pipeline that can fill persistent workforce shortages.
Myth: Corps are about community service, not workforce development.
Truth:
Corps programs partner with local employers to fill gaps in their communities. To date, more than 800 employers have formally partnered with AmeriCorps to build direct pathways from service to jobs. Sixty percent of surveyed Corps programs from The Corps Network’s membership report that employers or unions recognize their training as a preferred qualification when hiring. Recent Brookings research mapped the skills developed through Corps programs to more than 80 relevant occupations with median wages of nearly $30 per hour.
Appalachian Mountain Club
Myth: No one’s interested in conservation-related jobs anymore — that moment has passed.
Truth:
Corps programs aren’t focused specifically on conservation — they’re focused on building more resilient communities. The infrastructure workforce is aging, with an estimated 1.7 million workers leaving their jobs annually over the next decade. Compounding this challenge, America’s infrastructure is also aging while natural disasters are becoming more frequent. Jobs that make our communities more resilient in the face of disaster have never been more important.
Conservation Corps North Carolina
Myth: Corps programs primarily prepare participants to work in conservation.
Truth:
While Corps programs are most commonly associated with conservation, other focus areas include resilience, energy efficiency, sustainability, disaster response and community infrastructure. Examples of projects include solar panel installation, stormwater management, urban forestry, EV charging installation and building weatherization. Through these projects, members develop a range of technical and social skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability and self-confidence.
California Conservation Corps
Myth: Corps all do the same types of work, like building trails or planting trees. They’re not tapped into specific community needs.
Truth:
Corps programs are uniquely positioned to tackle issues in local communities — both rural and urban. For example, members of Louisiana Green Corps work on home weatherization, stormwater management and urban forestry projects to make New Orleans stronger in the face of disaster. At Operation Fresh Start in Madison, WI, participants build affordable housing and plant rain gardens that help reduce runoff and flooding risks for the city, which sits on an isthmus. And Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in New Mexico works closely with Taos Pueblo, an ancient continuously inhabited Native American community, on historical preservation and environmental preservation projects.
Operation Fresh Start
Myth: The impact of Corps programs isn’t worth the investment.
Truth:
While Corps programs require funding to operate, primarily secured through state and local resources, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Corps programs help prepare young people for high-demand infrastructure careers that pay median wages of $29.97/hour (25% above the national median) with relatively low barriers to entry (about half of workers in Corps-related occupations have a high school diploma or less). Stable, well-paying jobs are critical to their ability to secure financial stability, make fiscal contributions through taxes, consumption and entrepreneurship, and ultimately achieve economic mobility. The financial benefits don’t just affect individuals either. Urban Institute research demonstrates strong returns on investment for Corps programs — delivering $7 for every $1 invested — through upgraded infrastructure, improved disaster resilience and a new generation of workers equipped with the skills employers need most.
Green City Force
Corps programs have a strong legacy of meeting local workforce demands, producing the next generation of passionate leaders and using service as a strategy. By engaging youth in projects that have direct impacts on the communities they serve, we’re building a workforce that feels pride and ownership in the hard work that they do.
View all the research:
- The Brookings Institution | Corps to Careers: Expanding Career Opportunities for Young Adults Involved in Service and Conservation Programs
- Jobs for the Future & The Corps Network | Strengthening Service-to-Career Pathways: Amplifying Successful Practices From The Corps Network
- Urban Institute | Service Corps Programs That Connect Opportunity Youth to Infrastructure Jobs Potentially Yield High Returns on Investment











































































