Central America’s vulnerable communities face high levels of unemployment and/or participation in the informal economy. This panel will highlight essential components for effective youth workforce training programs that lead to employment. Attendees will gain valuable insights from speakers’ challenges and learnings, resulting in program participants’ improved gainful employment. Experts will validate growing regional labor market demands and strategies to align training programs and employers’ needs. The panelists will discuss comprehensive strategies, including labor market intelligence, interview preparation, job readiness, soft skills, socio-emotional skills and networking opportunities, leading to attendees’ ability to enhance their own organization’s initiatives.