In the 21st century, the idea of preparing youth for the workforce has taken on new meaning. The shift to a knowledge economy has brought widespread concern that young people are entering the workforce without the skills employers value most, such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork skills. As youth programs evaluate how to enhance their opportunities for adolescents, workforce preparation should be part of the discussion. In this paper, the authors will make the case for a focus on workforce preparation and examine youth programs as a context for workforce development. Of the many ways to blend youth development and workforce preparation, the authors will focus specifically on work-based learning. They have synthesized principles that can inform youth workforce development, with program examples to illustrate them. Finally, they consider the benefits and challenges of workforce preparation in youth programs and summarize the roles youth programs can take.