top of page

The 2023 Report on the Condition of Career Readiness in the United States

Key to America’s future economic success is a strong career readiness infrastructure, one that prepares today’s youth to find future success. Building such an infrastructure requires collaboration among education, industry, government, and the non-profit sector. It also requires states to continually assess their career readiness policies and practices to ensure they are both meeting local and regional workforce needs and advancing economic and social mobility for all workers.

Read the Executive Summary
 

Register for the Virtual Release of the 2023 Report on the Condition of Career Readiness in the U.S.

​

Tuesday, May 14 |  3 - 4:30pm EDT

Nearly all states either mandate or encourage schools to use individualized career plans, or Personalized Career and Academic Plans (PCAPs). However, improving our nation’s career readiness infrastructure requires more than this. Going forward, states must examine their related policies and practices and assess whether individualized career plans are being implemented with quality and fidelity. To assist, the purpose of this report is to present and analyze state-level career readiness indicators at four critical stages in the education and employment lifecycle.

​

LAUNCHING FUTURE-READY YOUTH:

College and Career Readiness Outcomes for K-12 Students

 

NAVIGATING THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD:

Postsecondary Outcomes Following High School Graduation

NAVIGATING THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD:

Workforce Engagement and Earnings Outcomes for Young Adults

 

SUSTAINING PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS:

Economic and Social Mobility Outcomes for Adults

BG.jpg
map.png

State Map on Career Readiness Policies, Resources, and Performance

This interactive state map provides the state-level career readiness outcomes described in this report as well as shares the individualized career plan policies and resources for each state. The presentation of state performance data is designed to generate a cross-sector consensus regarding career readiness outcomes and ideas to improve state rankings.

Screen Shot 2023-10-05 at 10.53.33 AM.png

Snapshot of Top Ranked States

This snapshot highlights the highest performing states for each of the four career readiness indicators. The aim is to help us, as a nation, gauge whether we are preparing youth to enter adulthood and our full-time working adults access to the wages needed to provide for their families.

1.jpg

PART 1

College and Career Readiness—The Outlook for Youth

​

       Policy Forum Webinar

​

webinar.png

During this webinar, featured panelists American Student Assistance President and CEO Jean Eddy, Flare Education President and CEO Ajit Vakharia, EdVestor Senior Director of Career Pathways LaVonia Montouté discussed key state-level college and career readiness outcomes and strategies to bolster cross-sector partnerships. To view the recording, use passcode: wZ^$g1Te

doc.png

This research brief offers a national snapshot of state-level college and career readiness outcomes with respect to postsecondary engagement and completion rates.

2_edited.jpg
webinar.png
doc.png

PART 2

America's Economic Future—The Outlook for Young Adults

​

       Policy Forum Webinar

​

webinar.png

During this webinar, featured panelists Boston Private Industry Council Youth Transitions Director Kathy Hamilton and Strada Education Foundation Director of Research Nichole Torpey-Saboe discussed strategies to expand access to career readiness services for ALL young adults.

doc.png

This research brief assesses (a) how many young adults are “disconnected” from education and employment; (b) how many are working full-time; and (c) of those working full-time, how many are earning a living wage.

2.jpg

PART 3

Pathways to Social Mobility—The Outlook for Adults

​

       Policy Forum Webinar

​

webinar.png

During this webinar, featured panelists Gateway Technical College President Emeritus Bryan Albrecht and Boston University Professor Dr. Jerry Whitmore, Jr. examined our nations efforts to prepare adults for economic self-sufficiency and social mobility.

doc.png

This research brief illustrates the outlook for adults, including those from historically underrepresented backgrounds as well as people with disabilities.

ASALogo_WEB+(002).png

These materials are possible because of American Student Assistance (ASA) and their generous funding.

bottom of page