Many of us have heard of a misalignment between education and work and career. This disconnect has grown more problematic over time. For instance, research by The Burning Glass Institute and Strada Education Foundation shows that 52 percent of college graduates are underemployed, meaning they are not working in the fields they majored in and are earning much less than they should considering their level of education. Research by Pew shows that male college enrollment is on the decline, and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that of the top ten occupations worked by Americans, only two pay a living wage and six are vulnerable to replacement by AI.
The fact is, our schools and those they serve need help to ensure students are truly “future ready,” which means being prepared to make informed decisions about education after high school to reach their economic potential as adults. We believe Junior Achievement (JA) is uniquely positioned to deliver end-to-end solutions that accelerate economic opportunity and mobility for students, their families, and ultimately, their communities.
Aligning Education to Economic Mobility
Economic mobility is the ability to move up the economic ladder within a lifetime or from one generation to the next. An example of economic mobility would be for a child raised in a working-class household to reach middle class or upper middle class as an adult. This can be accomplished by gaining skills via training, experience, and higher ed to increase income and wealth creation through home ownership, business ownership, or investments.
We believe that JA is uniquely situated to deliver end-to-end solutions that differentiate our position in the education and workforce development marketplace.
Junior Achievement features four capabilities that differentiate our efforts. They are:
- Authentic and engaging real-world connectivity;
- Track record of expertise in experiential learning;
- Trust and credibility with school district partners;
- Understanding of skills needed for the future of work.
The Opportunity
Junior Achievement utilizes outcomes-based design to achieve key outcomes associated with research-based building blocks that are demonstrated to accelerate economic opportunity and mobility for youth. These building blocks are:
- Student Engagement & Growth Mindset – students connect the relevance of education that then sparks self-motivation and confidence to pursue academic and career interests.
- Transferable Skills & Competencies – students gain knowledge, acquire skillsets, and develop competencies to successfully navigate post-secondary opportunities.
- Educational & Academic Attainment – students increase proficiency and comprehension in core academics, which can be demonstrated through meaningful educational credentials.
- Access to Networks & Opportunities – students access pre-employment opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeships, that result in credible experience that serves as a gateway to meaningful employment in growth occupations.
Accelerating Economic Opportunity and Mobility
Research shows that there are two viable approaches to achieve outcome sets associated with accelerating economic opportunity and mobility for youth. One is a youth development approach — helping young people develop the skills and connections they need to succeed in adulthood — which can occur within in-school or out-of-school settings. We refer to this as “future-ready youth,” and this is the area Junior Achievement has worked in for most of its history.
A second is a systems change approach — creating a lasting impact for youth outcomes by addressing the root causes of problems — which requires intentional work within (and with) the education and workforce systems themselves. We refer to this as “future-ready ecosystems,” where we promote change across the system by aligning connections with schools and employers in a community. Junior Achievement has been making evidence-based progress in this space for more than a decade.
One Mission: One Strategic Approach
We believe that JA is uniquely positioned to pursue a strategic approach that positions the organization’s capabilities and assets towards systems change, while leveraging the deep-rooted capabilities of our work in youth development. We have time-tested strength in youth development, and we are now leveraging our organizational assets to address the root causes of systemic challenges in ways that are unique to JA’s existing and emerging capabilities.
An Outcomes-Based Approach
Junior Achievement’s learning experiences, or products, are tools to drive an outcomes-based strategy. As the strategic approach is defined, JA is capable of aligning its proven products/programs/learning experiences with the highest level of efficacy to drive the desired outcomes. These outcomes can include enhanced motivation, improved knowledge of key work and career concepts, increased high school graduation rates, higher post-secondary enrollment, and more participation in pre-employment activities, like apprenticeships and internships.
Get Involved
Want to join us in our mission to prepare students for work and life? Get involved with Junior Achievement of Arizona by volunteering, donating, or attending an event.
