Survey Finds Voters Support Starting Career Preparation Earlier and for Stronger Action from Elected Officials

Key findings include:

• Voters see the system falling short. Just 39% are confident young people leave high school prepared for a career path, only 17% say they had a clear plan themselves, and only 23% say a counselor helped them feel prepared.
• More than one-third of young people say they aren’t ready for an AI-shaped economy. Among 18- to 27-year-olds with less than five years of experience in their current field, 38% disagree that they have the knowledge and skills to use AI and other new technology in their job, and 34% disagree that they have the skills to adapt or switch careers as technology changes their industry.
• Voters want career preparation to start early. Nearly all voters want middle and high schools to help students explore careers, build a plan, and gain work-related skills, and many want these career readiness activities to start by middle school. Among a sample of voters who are parents, 53% want skill building to start in middle school, compared with 44% who say it should wait until high school.
• Voters say elected officials aren’t giving the issue enough attention. While 89% of voters say it’s important that candidates talk about preparing young people for careers, only 51% are satisfied with the attention officials give it. At least 80% of both Trump and Harris 2024 voters say it’s important for the next Congress to act.
• Voters back a concrete agenda, with hands-on experience first. At least 81% of voters support each of the 15 state and federal policies tested, led by a counselor meeting for every high school student (88%) and quality standards for work-based learning (88%). Asked to pick their top priority, more than half of voters focused on providing students with hands-on experiences before graduation, including 31% who prioritize access to credentials, and 22% who recommended internships and work-based learning opportunities.