Helping Gen Z Navigate A Fuller Scope of Options
A new survey by Gallup, Jobs For the Future, and the Walton Family Foundation shows how Gen Zers view their post-high school options, who they trust for guidance, and how adults can better help them.
THE BIG PICTURE: As Gen Z students look ahead to life after high school, most focus on four-year colleges or work. This leads many students to overlook opportunities that may better align with their personal goals and interests. Encouraging students to explore the full scope of options earlier may lead students to more fulfilling futures.
Most students (90%) trust their parents the most when it comes to advice about life after high school.
- Forty-five percent of students are “very” interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree, while 40% of students are very interested in working right away.
- Why? These are the paths parents know best: 68% of parents have discussed bachelor’s degrees with their child, and 64% have discussed paid jobs.
The preparation gap: Despite sticking to what they are familiar with, many students feel unprepared for life after high school.
- Fewer than 30% of high school students say they feel “very prepared” for any postsecondary path.
- Between 35% and 40% of recent graduates report that their high school experience did not adequately equip them for college or the workforce.
When students are aware of more pathways, their interest in pursuing them grows.
- Students who have at least “some” knowledge of options beyond college or paid work are 2-3x more likely to express interest in pursuing those pathways.
- Between 47% and 59% of high schoolers show some interest in alternatives such as completing an internship, starting a business, or pursuing credentials like associate degrees, certificates, or industry certifications.
What can help set students on a clearer path forward?
- Students consistently point to work or internship experience, in-person college or university visits, and volunteer work as the most helpful ways to learn about options beyond the advice given from parents and teachers.
- Yet, not enough students are taking part in these valuable experiences.
THE TAKEAWAY: The earlier students are introduced to a variety of pathways, the more time they have to explore, develop relevant skills, and shape the future they want.
GO DEEPER:
