Career Readiness: Are Young Adults Prepared for the Next Step After School?

Are young adults truly ready to take on the world after high school? For too many, the answer is no. Career readiness—or the lack thereof—is becoming a major issue as graduates struggle to transition from classrooms to careers. Research shows that many high school graduates lack the skills, direction and confidence needed to enter the workforce or pursue higher education effectively. Why is this happening, and how can we fix it?

Imagine this: Less than half of high school students feel ready for college or a career.¹ That’s according to a 2021 report from the U.S. Department of Education. Globally, the situation is not much better. The OECD (2020) found that students in many countries are graduating without the essential skills employers are looking for.²

This unpreparedness stems from systemic issues in education, societal expectations, and inadequate career-focused resources. Addressing these gaps is critical to ensuring that students leave school equipped for life beyond the classroom.

Benefits of Career Education

Investing in career education isn’t just about job prep—it’s about empowering students to lead meaningful, independent lives.

Improved Graduation Rates

Students engaged in career education are more likely to graduate. A 2023 study by Advance CTE found that schools with robust career programs see a 20% increase in graduation rates compared to those without.³

Better Job Opportunities

Career education gives students a head start in industries like healthcare, technology, and skilled trades. This not only helps them find jobs faster but also positions them for higher earnings. The National Center for Education Statistics (2022) reports that graduates of CTE programs earn 12% more than their peers within five years of finishing school.⁴

Enhanced Life Skills

Beyond technical knowledge, career education fosters soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability. These are critical for both personal and professional success, according to LinkedIn Learning (2023).⁵

Economic Growth

When students succeed, communities thrive. Increasing career readiness reduces unemployment and boosts local economies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, individuals aged 25 and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher had an unemployment rate of 2.1%, while those with less than a high school diploma faced an unemployment rate of 5.6%.⁶

Why Aren’t Students Ready? And How Can We Help?

When young adults leave school unprepared, it’s not just their problem—it’s everyone’s. Unprepared graduates are more likely to face unemployment or underemployment. In 2022, 11.5% of young people aged 16-24 were classified as “disconnected youth,” meaning they weren’t in school or working.⁷ This group often ends up relying on social support systems, creating economic challenges for society as a whole.

Like many issues in education, career preparedness is a multifaceted challenge to tackle. Let’s explore some of the reasons for students’ lack of career readiness—and some potential paths to help improve their life prep.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Schools are great at teaching math, history, and science, but when it comes to career education? Not so much. In a 2022 Post-Graduation Readiness Report by YouScience, 72% reported that they were rarely or only sometimes exposed to a variety of career options in school.⁸ There is an insufficient integration of career education into curriculums as many schools prioritize standardized tests over practical skills or vocational training.

A 2022 Advance CTE study shows that modern CTE programs could boost post-secondary enrollment by 20% and degree completion by 25%. Yet, they’re still not widely implemented.⁹ Without the exposure to these programs, students miss opportunities to explore potential career paths.

CTE programs are game-changers. They give students hands-on experience in industries ranging from healthcare to tech. Another report by YouScience in 2023 revealed that 8 in 10 students feel they would have been more engaged in school if they better understood their aptitudes and potential career opportunities.¹⁰ These programs should be designed to align with current labor market demands, ensuring that students gain relevant skills. Expanding these programs is a no-brainer.

The College-or-Bust Mentality

High schools often push students toward a four-year degree, leaving those interested in trade schools, apprenticeships, or straight-to-work options in the dark. Only 10% of schools adequately address vocational paths.¹¹ This one-size-fits-all approach leaves a huge chunk of students—who might excel in non-college paths—without proper guidance.

Apprenticeships and trade schools are making a big comeback, offering young adults practical, rewarding alternatives to the traditional college route. This shift shows how much society is starting to value skilled trades again and is pushing back against outdated stereotypes. High schools need to expose students to a variety of career paths early on. Programs like job shadowing, technical education, and career fairs can help students find their fit. Schools and businesses should work together to make sure training programs meet the needs of today’s job market. These partnerships can create a direct pipeline for students into the workforce.

Waiting Until High School

Introducing career exploration in middle school can help students discover their strengths and interests. Several studies reveal that teaching younger adolescents about career possibilities leads to increased self awareness and academic motivation and supports the development of soft skills that will one day serve them well in the workplace.

Schools can use tools like virtual job shadowing to broaden students’ understanding of potential professions. Integrating career exploration and skill-building activities at an early stage helps students build confidence to navigate life pathways. It also helps those students focus on high school courses aligned with their interests. (See our article on holistic education for more on this.)

Missing Soft Skills

Employers aren’t just looking for technical knowledge. They want people who can communicate, work in teams, and solve problems. Unfortunately, these “soft skills” aren’t often taught in schools, leaving students unprepared for professional environments. A 2023 LinkedIn Learning report revealed that while 91% of employers value soft skills, only 40% of high school grads feel confident they have them.¹² Programs that integrate project-based learning and collaborative activities can help address this gap.

Incorporating teamwork, communication, and critical thinking into the curriculum can make a huge difference. Programs that incorporate these skills have been successful in preparing students for the workforce. Employers rank problem-solving, emotional intelligence and adaptability as top workplace skills.¹³ Schools using project-based learning help students build these competencies in a practical, engaging way. For example, a 2023 survey by LinkedIn Learning found that job candidates with strong communication and interpersonal skills were 35% more likely to secure employment in competitive industries.¹⁴

Socioeconomic Inequalities

Let’s face it: Not all schools have the same resources. Students in wealthier areas are twice as likely to participate in career-building activities.¹⁵ Students from low-income families are less likely to have access to internships, extracurricular activities, and other opportunities that build employability skills. Underfunded schools struggle to offer even basic programs. This disparity sets up an uneven playing field that’s hard to level.

Internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing let students dip their toes into the real world. Partnering with local businesses and industries can make these opportunities accessible to more students, especially for students in underserved communities. These partnerships not only benefit students but also provide businesses with a pipeline of skilled, work-ready employees.

Overloaded Counselors

Like classroom teachers, counselors are stretched thin, with a national average of 415 students for every one counselor.¹⁶ That’s almost double the recommended ratio of 250:1. This high student-to-counselor ratio makes it difficult for counselors to provide personalized career advice. A 2022 study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that improving this ratio could boost career readiness by 15%.¹⁷ But with limited funding, many students are left to navigate their futures alone.

It’s simple: More counselors mean more personalized support. Schools that meet the recommended 250:1 ratio see better career outcomes, but achieving this requires increased funding and policy support.¹⁸ Training counselors in career-specific advising could significantly enhance their ability to support diverse student needs.

What Happened to Family and Consumer Sciences Classes?

Family and Consumer Sciences classes, which were formerly called home economics, were once a core part of the American school curriculum. These FCS courses weren’t just about cooking or sewing; they taught foundational skills for managing everyday life. According to the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, these classes covered a wide range of practical knowledge, from nutrition and textiles to managing finances and child care.¹⁹ Over time, the scope expanded to include topics like family dynamics, interior design — and career planning.

But today, many schools have cut back or even eliminated these programs altogether, creating a gap in students’ readiness for life after graduation.

What happened? A big reason for the decline of FCS classes is the increasing focus on standardized testing and subjects seen as critical for college and career readiness—like math, science, and English. As schools started emphasizing STEM education and pushing students toward higher education, electives like FCS were often seen as non-essential. As a result, many schools reduced or even cut these programs. This shift left a gap in essential life skills—skills that are crucial for students’ personal and professional futures.

How Did the Shift Away from FCS Impact Career Readiness?

The impact of this shift is significant. Without FCS classes, many students are missing out on practical knowledge in areas like personal finance, cooking, and time management—skills that are important no matter what path they choose after high school. In fact, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and financial literacy are among the most valued by employers.²⁰ FCS courses were specifically designed to teach many of these skills. For example, personal finance classes help students understand budgeting, saving, and investing—critical knowledge for managing their own money and preparing for financial independence. Similarly, FCS programs in child development and family studies can help students pursue careers in teaching, healthcare, or social work.

The gap in life skills isn’t just a personal issue; it affects the workforce, too. Many industries—like hospitality, healthcare, and retail—require workers to understand things like food safety, customer service, and resource management. FCS programs provided the foundation for these skills. The decline of these classes limits the number of skilled workers entering these essential fields, which rely heavily on life skills training.

Ultimately, the reduction of FCS classes has left many students without the practical skills they need to succeed in both their personal lives and careers. By focusing more on core academic subjects and cutting back on life skills education, schools have unintentionally left students unprepared for adulthood. Reintroducing FCS courses or expanding them could help bridge this gap, giving students the tools they need to thrive in today’s world.

Who’s Responsible?

Fixing the career readiness crisis will take teamwork. From parents to policymakers, everyone has a role to play.

• Policymakers can step up by funding career education and making sure every school has access to it. Backing programs like CTE and encouraging schools to include vocational training could make a big difference.
• Educators play a key role too. They should push for a curriculum that balances academics with practical, career-focused skills. Giving students chances to solve real-world problems and explore different career paths should be part of the plan.
• Parents can help by talking openly about all kinds of career options—not just the college route. Encouraging kids to look into trade schools, apprenticeships, or straight-to-work opportunities can break down outdated stigmas.
• Businesses also have a huge part to play. By offering internships, apprenticeships, and mentoring programs, they can build stronger connections between education and the skills needed in the workforce.
• Community organizations can make a real impact by providing extra support, like mentorships, resources, or scholarships. These efforts can help level the playing field for students who might otherwise miss out.

Who’s Making a Difference?

Fortunately, some organizations and programs are already tackling these challenges head-on:

Advance CTE — This organization champions career and technical education across the U.S., providing resources, policy guidance, and advocacy to improve access and quality.

Year Up — Year Up bridges the gap for young adults by offering intensive training programs that combine technical skills, soft skills, and internships with corporate partners.

Junior Achievement (JA) — JA introduces students to financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career skills through hands-on activities, mentorship, and real-world experiences.

Pathways to Prosperity Network — This initiative focuses on creating seamless pathways from high school to college or careers by collaborating with schools, employers, and policymakers.

SkillsUSA — SkillsUSA engages students in leadership and technical training competitions, helping them gain confidence and practical experience in various industries.

Apprenticeship.gov — This federal resource connects students with apprenticeship opportunities nationwide, offering a direct route into the workforce with on-the-job training.

The Bottom Line

The career readiness gap isn’t just a problem—it’s a wake-up call. Positioning young adults to succeed means rethinking how we prepare them for life after high school. The Education Revolution Association (ERA) is on a mission to do exactly that: We are developing a Life Discovery curriculum that will empower every student to understand their strengths and weaknesses, identify best-fit career paths, and maximize their full potential.

By focusing on career education, addressing inequities, and teaching essential skills, we can ensure that the next generation is able to find, follow and create life pathways that are energizing and fulfilling. We are turning classrooms into centers of self-discovery, and matching that with the teaching of practical life skills and nurturing civility and kindness.

We invite you to join us in transforming American education. Contact us to get involved and help us equip students with the tools, guidance, and support they need to thrive in today’s world—whatever challenges they may face.

References

1. Report on the condition of education 2021. National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2021/2021144.pdf ↩︎
2. OECD. (n.d.). Education at a glance 2020 | OECD. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/education-at-a-glance-2020_69096873-en.html ↩︎
3. AdvanceCTE. (n.d.). The State of Career Technical Education:. CareerTech. (n.d.). https://careertech.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023_State_of_CTE_Research_Report_Advance_CTE.pdf ↩︎
4. National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). Undergraduate Retention and Graduation Rates. Condition of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/ctr ↩︎
5. 2023 Workplace Learning Report. LinkedIn Learning. (n.d.). https://learning.linkedin.com/resources/workplace-learning-report-2023 ↩︎
6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Unemployment rates and earnings by educational attainment. https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm ↩︎
7. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022). Employment and unemployment among youth. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/youth_08172022.pdf ↩︎
8. YouScience. (2022). 2022 Post-Graduation Readiness Report. YouScience.com https://www.youscience.com/resources/reports/post-graduation-readiness-report ↩︎
9. AdvanceCTE. (n.d.). State Policies Impacting CTE: 2022 Year in Review. Careertech. https://careertech.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/What_is_CTE_2018.pdf ↩︎
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