Many of us have heard of a misalignment between education and work and career. This disconnect has grown more problematic over time. For instance, research by The Burning Glass Institute and Strada Education Foundation shows that 52 percent of college graduates are underemployed, meaning they are not working in the fields they majored in and are earning much less than they should, considering their level of education. Research by Pew shows that male college enrollment is on the decline, and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that of the top ten occupations worked by Americans, only two pay a living wage, and six are vulnerable to replacement by AI. The fact is, our schools and those they serve need help to ensure students are truly “future ready,” which means being prepared to make informed decisions about education after high school to reach their economic potential as adults.
Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain is uniquely positioned to deliver solutions that accelerate economic opportunity and mobility for students, their families, and, ultimately, their communities.
Aligning Education and Economic Mobility
Economic mobility is the ability to move up the economic ladder within a lifetime or from one generation to the next. An example of economic mobility would be for a child raised in a working-class household to reach middle class or upper-middle class as an adult. This can be accomplished by gaining skills via training, experience, and higher education to increase income and wealth creation through home ownership, business ownership, or investments. We believe that JA is uniquely situated to deliver solutions that differentiate our position in the education and workforce development marketplace.
JA features four capabilities that differentiate our efforts. They are:
| Authentic and Engaging Real-World Connectivity | Trust & Credibility with School District Partners |
| Track Record of Expertise in Experiential Learning | Understanding of Skills Needed for the Future of Work |
JA utilizes Outcomes-Based Design to achieve key outcomes associated with research-based building blocks that are demonstrated to accelerate economic opportunity and mobility for youth. These building blocks are:
| Student Engagement & Growth Mindset | Educational & Academic Attainment |
| Transferable Skills & Competencies | Access to Networks & Opportunities |
JA’s proven programs are offered at no cost to schools. To learn more about our approach and how JA can customize solutions to meet your needs, contact programs@jarockymountain.org.
