Teen Unemployment Hits 14.5% — Nebraska Apprenticeships Offer a Way In
Teen unemployment is 14.5% nationally. A Ho-Chunk Inc. apprenticeship in Nebraska has given 200+ Indigenous students work experience and 10 credits per semester since 2022.
Teen unemployment stood at 14.5% nationally in the latest federal jobs report — more than three times the 4.2% overall rate. For Indigenous high school students in Nebraska, that gap is the backdrop for a Winnebago-based apprenticeship program run by Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe, which lets students earn academic credit while building work experience.
Since launching in 2022, the program has helped more than 200 students gain on-the-job experience. Participants earn 10 high school credits per semester while exploring career options. Graduates have moved on to vocational certifications, college degrees, military service and careers within tribal organizations — and several former participants now hold leadership positions.
What does the program actually change?
Terri Lee Medina, community programs manager for Ho-Chunk Inc., said the experience helps students make informed career choices before they spend time and money on further education.
"Save them some money if they know, 'Oh, I wanna go to be a teacher,' or, 'I wanna go be a construction worker.' They know their avenues to take to do that, and then hopefully return on investment," Medina said. "We've been able to see some of those that are starting to come back through our internship program, our collegiate program here at Ho-Chunk."
That return loop matters. Students who test a career path early can redirect before tuition or training costs pile up, and some come back to Ho-Chunk as interns or collegians. The takeaway: early exposure converts directly into cheaper, faster career decisions.
Why experience barriers hit teens hardest
For young people entering the workforce, the biggest obstacle is often getting hired without prior experience. Medina noted employers frequently expect applicants to hold both education and practical skills at once — a double demand that locks out beginners. The apprenticeship aims to close that gap while teaching professionalism, customer service and other skills employers value.
"They either have the education and they don't have the experience, or they have the experience but they don't have the education," Medina observed. "I think it is removing those barriers and having them believe that, 'Oh, I don't have a driver's license,' and we go that extra mile and we help them study for an exam, go take them driving."
That logistical support — study help, rides to driving exams — removes small barriers that compound into hiring disqualifications. The takeaway: the program attacks credential and access gaps, not just resumes.
What comes next
With the national teen unemployment rate still at 14.5%, demand for structured pathways like this one is unlikely to ease, and Medina's team expects more graduates to cycle back through Ho-Chunk's internship and collegiate programs.
Source: Google News: Job market
More from Tom Whitfield
Show full bio
Senior reporter covering regulation, policy and their impact on Job market data and labor economics at Path & Pay.
543 articles
Go deeper
- Uganda Turns to Education-Industry Partnerships to Close Skills Gap
- Maine Turns to Younger Workers to Fill Skilled-Trade Jobs
- Uganda's Skills Gap Raises Red Flags for Youth Employment
- Vocational High School Graduates Are Landing High-Paying Jobs in Korea
- South Africa’s 47.4% youth unemployment and the experience gap