In 2018, McDonald’s set a global goal to reduce barriers to employment for two-million young people by 2025, through pre-employment job readiness training, employment opportunities and workplace development programs. In addition to providing job opportunities that young people need to kick start their career, the company and participating Franchisees are expanding existing training and education programs to go beyond those they hire. In partnership with local community organizations and the International Youth Foundation (IYF), McDonald’s is rolling out a new pre-employment job readiness training program designed to help young people develop the competencies employers are looking for in entry-level employees.

McDonald’s aims to reduce barriers to employment for two-million young people by 2025. As part of this goal, McDonald’s is piloting a pre-employment job-readiness training program in Chicago, with the goal of reducing barriers to employment for 4,000 young people in the city, before rolling it out to select cities in the U.S. from 2019. This initiative will be rolled out from 2019 to participating global markets through locally-relevant training programs and partners. McDonald’s is bringing together four trusted community organizations – After School Matters, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, Phalanx Family Services and Central States SER – that will pair relevant skills training programs with a customized version of IYF’s Passport to Success curriculum. The training is designed to help young people develop the competencies employers are looking for in entry-level employees. Participants will learn valuable soft skills such as self-awareness and management, communication skills, problem solving and conflict management. In addition to being considered for job opportunities at company-owned and franchisee restaurants, graduates from the training will have the chance to pursue opportunities with potential employers across a variety of industries like healthcare, supply chain logistics and IT. The company and participating franchisees will also provide job opportunities that young people need to kick-start their career. Employees can go on to access training, education and leadership development programs, including Archways to Opportunity, an education program that provides eligible employees an opportunity to complete an apprenticeship, receive college tuition assistance and learn English as a second language.

McDonald's Corporation; International Youth Foundation (IYF)