Young Gen Zers pursuing non-degree careers feel prepared for the workforce

Key points:

• Three in four high school graduates say they feel prepared to enter the workforce through a non-degree pathway
• High school graduates need more information about these pathways to make better decisions about their future.
• See related article: Companies go to secondary schools to receive vocational training
• For more college and career readiness news, check out eSN’s Innovative Teaching page.

a new survey Commissioned by American Student Assistance (ASA) and Jobs for the Future (JFF), it found that while young people pursuing non-degree pathways report confidence in their future, there is a widespread lack of awareness about these various paths to success and how judge your success. quality. In fact, two in three young people who did not follow a non-degree educational path indicated that they would have considered this option if they had known more about it.

As university enrollment remains below pre-pandemic levels and survey after survey captures growing public skepticism about the value of college, ASA and JFF commissioned a survey, conducted by Morning Consult, of more than 1,100 high school graduates who have chosen not to go to college college immediately after high school. school to better understand their decisions.

The survey explores the perceptions, feelings and choices of three groups of students who are pursuing a non-degree postsecondary program, such as apprenticeships, boot camps, certification programs, industry certifications and occupational licenses, versus students who are not pursuing education or post-secondary training. The three groups of students surveyed include: Non-university youth: Those who are not enrolled in or graduated from a university (covers all respondents); Young people of the road: Those who followed or are pursuing any postsecondary pathway without a degree (describes 558 of respondents); and Young people outside the itinerary: Those who did not or are not pursuing any non-degree post-secondary pathway (describes 561 of respondents).

Among the key findings:

1. Young people who pursue careers without qualifications feel safe. Compared to the experiences and perceptions of youth who are not on a defined path, 70 percent of “youth on path” are very confident in their post-secondary plans. Almost all (9 out of 10) respondents are satisfied with the path they are on or following. The main reasons for that satisfaction were the opportunity to engage in hands-on work and learn by doing, which pathways were quicker to complete and gave them the education and training they needed to obtain a job in their desired field.
2. Young people who pursue careers without a degree perceive that they are prepared for the world of work. Nearly three in four (71 percent) of young people surveyed said they felt prepared for the workforce. Among these respondents, about one in three had earned a certification (31 percent) or certificate (33 percent), and 20 percent had earned a competency-based license.
3. A greater proportion of young people in the itinerary report being employed. More youth not on track (65 percent) report working part- or full-time, compared to 51 percent of youth not on track.
4. Information gaps persist for high school graduates. Nearly 1 in 3 non-college youth (32 percent) report a lack of confidence in knowing the steps they need to take to transition to a post-secondary career and education. Two in three (64 percent) youth not participating in the program say they would have considered the program’s programs if they knew more about them. They report several barriers to not pursuing pathway programs, including a lack of encouragement from the school to explore them. Non-college youth identified searching the web (87 percent) and watching online videos (81 percent) as their preferred information sources for their post-high school plans.

“A growing number of young people are interested in diverse post-secondary pathways that allow them to build a life and career on their own terms. But acquiring the skills needed to thrive in a dynamic workforce can be confusing and confusing for students. It is the responsibility of policymakers, advocates and educators to ensure that young people have the information and opportunities necessary to develop those skills,” said Jean Eddy, president and CEO of ASA. “With this survey we seek to learn from young people to better understand the support they need to help them with their future planning.”

“It’s clear that many Gen Z youth are seeking faster, more affordable and more relevant paths to meaningful jobs that offer livable wages that are aligned with their aspirations and interests,” said Maria Flynn, president and CEO. from Jobs for the Future. . “As we transform education and workforce development systems by blurring the lines between high school, postsecondary education, and vocational training, it is critical to help young people access clear, accurate, and timely information on diverse pathways. from education to career.”

The full results of the survey can be found in a new white paper, “Success, redefined: how non-degree pathways enable young people to chart their own course towards confidence, employability and financial freedom”, published today by ASA and JFF. In addition to the survey results, the white paper highlights first-hand accounts from four young people who have followed a variety of paths after high school, from online courses and certificates to boot camps and apprenticeship programs.

This press release originally appeared online.

Laura Ascione is the editorial director of eSchool Media. She graduated from the prestigious Philip Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

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