Young people are the specific clients of many of those employed in both government and non-government agencies in community services. However, many of these employees do not have formal qualifications in youth work. This paper addresses a particular problem that many people and particularly employers face in trying to understand youth work. Many employees do not have formal qualifications in youth work, yet there are clear benefits to employing qualified youth workers. The paper explains why young people qualify as a defined population with distinct service needs and how through specialized education and training, youth workers are better able to serve young people than those without youth work training. Five premises and two propositions are presented as arguments for why employing qualified youth workers is advantageous to employers, young people, and the wider community. References