Key points:
Much emphasis is placed on college and career readiness, but too often, K-12 students aren’t exposed to career possibilities or career resources to form an idea of what their future may look like.
Students have the aptitudes (or natural talents) for the nation’s most in-demand career fields–including healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and finance–but they are not inclined to pursue those occupations due to a profound lack of exposure, according to The 2024 State of the Future U.S. Workforce Report from tech provider YouScience, which aims to solve the skills gap crisis for students and employers.
Exposure gaps are particularly prevalent in STEM education and are more pronounced for underrepresented groups like girls and minorities.
Women play a crucial role in filling high-paying, in-demand STEM careers, but they account for just 34 percent of the STEM workforce, according to 2024 Female Students and STEM Report.
Beginning in middle school, female students experience significant STEM exposure gaps that continue through high school. The report highlights critical insights into career exposure gaps among female students across the nation for a variety of in-demand jobs, and offers actionable solutions to bridge these gaps in the STEM field careers.
“Too many young people are leaving high school without clarity on where they’re going next or how to get there. In fact, less than half of respondents who identified as members of Generation Z said they had enough information to decide what post-high school pathway was best for them,” said Judy Goldstein, SVP, PR/Communications, American Student Assistance (ASA).
A survey commissioned by ASA and Jobs for the Future (JFF) found that both parents and educators lack sufficient information about the range and quality of education to career pathways available to young people today. The survey and accompanying white paper, Beyond Degrees, found nearly 90 percent of parents are interested in learning more about non-degree pathways for their children, and two in five want schools to start advising students about their postsecondary options as early as middle school.
“With more than a million credentials available through various programs and organizations, today’s youth face a vast array of degree and non-degree options–including certificate programs, apprenticeships, short-term credentials, and professional licenses–but little information on which non-degree paths lead to meaningful, quality jobs and careers. Recognizing this information gap, we’ll see a greater trend toward providing increased equitable access to the information, including free digital resources, that young people need to help them find the path after high school that’s right for them,” Goldstein added.
As the workforce evolves, students and teachers should know how classroom learning connects to future careers. In fact, making learning relevant to careers and the real world is among the stop strategies educators employ to increase student engagement and interest in lessons.
“Career-connected learning will become more important than ever. The workforce has undergone significant changes, and today’s jobs require advanced skills and specialized training, particularly in STEM fields. However, many high school classrooms still use outdated college and career preparation models, which can leave high school graduates feeling unprepared for their future,” said Edson Barton, CEO of YouScience. “This highlights the increasing need for high schools to incorporate career-connected learning. In the upcoming school year, we can expect more educators and counselors to focus on aligning their students’ educational experiences with the demands of the job market so that they are better prepared to pursue college and/or career pathways that will empower them to succeed.”
One way to help students learn what their futures may look like? Career planning.
“High school students said learning skills they need to be successful in the real world is a top criterion in choosing a path after they graduate. But there’s a disconnect between what students know they want to learn and what they do learn,” writes Joanna McCumber, a digital integration specialist for Anderson School District 5 in South Carolina.
McCumber uses several career planning tools to help students find what they love to do and identify career paths in those areas:
1. Discovery Education’s Career Connect helps students connect with working industry professionals to learn about career journeys and what it’s like to work in the field. Teachers can virtually connect students with industry professionals to talk about their careers, the concepts they use to solve problems, and the path they have taken to get to where they are today.
2. A Day in the Life is a free digital archive of first-hand accounts of what it’s like to work in a specific field or role. Students will be able to find jobs that reflect their interests and get excited about their future. From social media manager, to oncology charge nurse, to video game lead animator, there are countless different career paths to explore.
3. Forage offers free job simulations that expose students to a wide array of careers and skills. Through partnerships with top companies, students get a unique look into what being an industry professional would be like. Industries range from marketing to software engineering, with popular companies such as J.P. Morgan and Lululemon offering job simulations. This is a great tool for students looking to develop industry-related skills and explore real-life projects.
