Report: Young People Want to Get to Work Sooner

Inside Higher Ed

Ashley Mowreader

November 2, 2023

Nondegree pathways are growing in popularity among high school graduates. A new report reveals a gap between students’ knowledge of available opportunities beyond a four-year degree and their interest in skills-based learning.

High school graduates are less inclined to see college as their next step, with recent studies showing preference toward work-based learning or alternate pathways.

A January survey from ECMC Group found 35 percent of students do not believe education after high school is necessary, and 63 percent of teens are open to options other than a four-year degree. However, only 13 percent of students feel fully prepared to choose their path after high school.

A white paper from American Student Assistance and Jobs for the Future found opportunities for improved communication and visibility of nondegree options for learners to support career goals.

“We need a way to be able to align skills and interests of our young people with what the world needs,” ASA CEO Jean Eddy says.

The need: The rising cost of higher education presents challenges to high schoolers looking at opportunities after high school; many students and their families do not see a return on investment in paying for a college degree, Eddy says.

“Many Gen Z youth are looking for faster, more economical and more relevant on-ramps to meaningful jobs that offer life-sustaining wages and are aligned to their real interests,” the report says. Six in 10 surveyed teens (61 percent) said they have a career in mind right now.

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