Report: Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Is Building Careers and Civic Skills

Young adults’ community service can be a pathway to workforce development, professional growth and civic engagement, finds a new report from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.

Its Do Good Institute’s evaluation of the first two classes of the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option (MC/SYO), a flagship initiative of the state’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation, found that members were more likely to be employed six months after completing their service than when they enrolled, with a substantially larger increase in employment rates than in the comparison group. 

The programs, which debuted in 2023, are nine-month paid opportunities for Marylanders to serve their neighbors in their communities while gaining real-world experience to prepare them for the job force. Service Year Option targets individuals ages 18-24 who have graduated from high school or earned an equivalent credential; Maryland Corps is for anyone 18 and over. The two programs included a total of 686 participants. 

The research team of Nathan Dietz, Thomas Luke Spreen, Nolan Pope and Tommy Bennett found that among MC/SYO members who were already employed at enrollment. However, members were more likely than comparison group members to be employed, and the post-service difference in employment rates was marginally significant, despite small sample sizes. Members were also significantly more likely than the comparison group to be both working and attending college after their service. 

An analysis of survey data showed significant improvements in members’ perceptions of training and mentorship, confidence in professional settings, ability to develop and carry out plans for their futures, and ability to identify problems in their communities. The study found positive movement in civic engagement as well. Members reported increased voter registration rates and a higher projected likelihood of voting in national elections.

The researchers emphasize that because the program is still in its early stages, limited post-service data makes it difficult to identify statistically significant differences across every outcome. Still, the employment and wage gains, combined with professional development during the service year, offer promising early evidence that service can help young adults build skills and connect to both economic and civic opportunities.