Center for Health Workforce at Mason

Students today are scouring the career landscape for efficient, affordable routes to high-demand careers—and they’re willing to take unconventional risks to find them. According to data uncovered by JFF, less than 25% of young people believe college is the only good path to a job, and more than 70% of high school students want to define their own postsecondary path. This makes sense—Gen Z and Gen Alpha have spent a majority of their life being “disrupted”—by new technology, climate change, and a global pandemic, just to name a few. The “traditional” path to a career doesn’t fit their vision of the future, nor should it.

More than half of students will finish high school with work experience in 2022, a trend that has risen steadily in recent years. This is good news. The wave of students willing to work—in any industry or role— suggests young people think about themselves as professionals, and the future careers available to them, early on.

The bad news is that robust and integrated career and education guidance is lacking. This is not due to our hardworking (and often overwhelmed) counselors and educators—it is a systemic challenge. Labor market information is hard to decipher; outcomes and employment data from postsecondary programs are fragmented and incomplete; and signals from employers are confusing—there is evidence they are open to hiring based on skills, but also admit that they aren’t sure how to identify credentials of value.

The solution for bridging this gap is complex, but increasing access to career information is the logical first step. College Board and JFF are working together to build out a platform that helps students visualize responsible “next steps” in their education and career. College Board’s BigFuture platform will integrate career insights into students’ experience on the platform so they can consider all possible pathways to a successful future. To support this goal, BigFuture will relate students’ SAT score reports to college admissions criteria and occupations they can reach through a variety of education and training options after high school.

More importantly, the platform aims to make learning about high-quality postsecondary options easier and more actionable. JFF will help College Board build a career navigation process where students can explore possible careers that align with their interests and goals.