High school students all over the country face a common challenge – figuring out how to prepare for a future career. The increasing number of high-quality non-degree pathways adds to the complexity, making it difficult for students to choose the best route to acquire the foundational skills necessary for a successful and fulfilling career.
Students should be empowered to take control of their own career navigation, but as leaders in education and workforce development, it is our responsibility to support them and ensure they have the right tools and information to succeed. It is crucial that we provide clear insights into careers, evolving skills, and postsecondary pathways to facilitate economic mobility for the next generation of high school graduates.
The Urgent Need for Career Awareness and Skills Alignment
The lack of quality career information in U.S. high schools puts students’ futures at risk. Without early career awareness, these learners may overlook pursuing careers in demand, leading to potential underemployment. With the average counselor-to-student ratio in U.S. high schools at 1:408, it is challenging for students, counselors, and parents to stay updated on labor market trends. Furthermore, by 2030, the shortage of highly skilled workers is projected to exceed 6.5 million.
Given the advancements in technologies like AI and the growth of emerging industries, understanding how skills translate into earnings is essential for accessing well-paying jobs and closing critical skills gaps.
Existing Models Show What’s Possible
Fortunately, some organizations are at the forefront of providing career transparency and navigation for postsecondary students and workers seeking information.
California’s Sierra College utilizes the guided pathways model to clarify educational and career goals. Research indicates that students with skills aligned to labor market needs are less likely to experience underemployment. The institution’s Career Coach platform offers up-to-date labor market information, connecting the college’s programs to regional career opportunities.
Similarly, Texas’s workforce commission introduced a mobile app to assist residents in assessing their skills, exploring career pathways, and determining their next steps, whether it be a new job or credential. Texas Workforce Commissioner Bryan Daniel emphasizes the tool’s vision as a means to help individuals map their skills to desired jobs and develop a roadmap to reach their goals.
Scaling Career Transparency in High Schools
While progress is being made at the state workforce and postsecondary levels, it is essential to apply these principles to U.S. high schools as well.
This year, 4 million students received a Career Insights Snapshot along with their SAT or PSAT score reports. This snapshot, designed to spark career exploration, highlights growing careers that match students’ skills and provides information on required postsecondary education and expected salaries. Initial feedback indicates that these tools boost students’ optimism and excitement about their futures and have the potential to unlock opportunities for many.
Government-led statewide initiatives are also leading the way, with numerous states working on solutions to support their high school students. For instance, Delaware’s Career Compass offers a detailed guide for middle school and high school students interested in planning their careers. In Illinois, the state’s High School 2 Career tool provides students with an interactive way to explore careers, helping them make informed decisions about their post-high school careers. Similarly, Montana Career Pathways was launched to help high school students learn about in-demand career options in the state and the activities they can undertake to prepare for a career after graduation. In West Virginia, the Classroom 2 Career Navigator supports individuals by providing information on careers, colleges, military service, entrepreneurship, and on-the-job training.
Going beyond state initiatives to a district level, Ohio’s Lakota Local School District established the Lakota Cyber Academy, where students acquire cybersecurity skills and explore career opportunities. The academy offers industry-recognized courses, hands-on challenges, and exposure to employers through site visits, mentorships, and internships. This year, Lakota Cyber Academy students earned 40 industry certifications that are immediately usable after graduation.
The College Board’s Career Kickstart program will expand a similar model nationwide, enabling high school students to pursue college credit and industry-recognized credentials for in-demand careers like cybersecurity.
Moving Forward: Our Path and Responsibility
While standardizing career decisions is impossible, we can provide students, educators, and families with the insights necessary to make the best decisions for their future. Our objective should be to build upon the positive work already in progress to create an ecosystem that ensures students’ choices align with labor market demands, rather than forcing them to search the internet for incomplete or inaccurate information.
As leaders in education and workforce development, we have the tools, and students are eager to utilize them, so what is preventing us from scaling this work today?
Clare Bertrand is the executive director of career strategy and partnerships at College Board, where she leads efforts to bridge the gap between education and career opportunities.
Josh Wright is the executive vice president of growth for the education and government division at Lightcast, formerly known as Emsi Burning Glass. A former journalist, he regularly writes and presents on the latest trends in the labor market.