Work Readiness for the New Economy

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Work Readiness for the New Economy
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Work Readiness

• Work readiness is defined as the knowledge,
  skills, and abilities that job seekers need to
  succeed in the world of work in the 21st century.

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Work Readiness

• Work readiness is a requirement for career
  success in todays global marketplace.

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Work ReadinessThe need Workers with
21st-century skills for increased
marketability

• Think critically and make sound judgments.
• Solve complex, multidisciplinary, open-ended
  problems.
• Display creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.

• Make innovative use of knowledge, information,
  and opportunities.
• Communicate effectively and use teamwork.
• Take charge of financial, health, and civic
  responsibilities.
• (Partnership for 21st Century Skills)

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Work Readiness

• The reason
• The U.S. economy has experienced a fundamental
  shift that has altered job creation.
• Between 1995 and 2005, the U.S. economy lost 3
  million manufacturing jobs and created 17 million
  service-sector jobs. (U.S. Bureau of Labor
  Statistics)

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Work Readiness

• The industrial economy based on manufacturing has
  shifted to a service economy driven by
  information, knowledge and innovation.
  (Partnership for 21st Century Skills/UCLA
  Anderson School of Management, 2008)

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Work Readiness

• The problem
• Young U.S. workers entering the job market are
  not prepared to compete and succeed in this
  environment.
• As important as education is to success in the
  new economy, the nation is not doing well
  compared to other countries....Even the
  highest-achieving U.S. students underperform
  their international peers.
  (Organization for Economic Development and
  Cooperation, 2007)

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Work Readiness

• The statistics
• 80 of Americans believe that students are
  getting passed through the public high school
  system without the skills they need for college
  or work.
• 77 of high school graduates who went into the
  workforce without a college degree say that they
  would have worked harder in school if they had
  known then what they do now about the
  expectations of the world of work.
• 45 of recent high school graduates do not have
  the skills and abilities needed to move beyond
  entry-level jobs, according to employers.

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Work Readiness

• The solution
• Effective education.
• Learning experiences must be
• Comprehensive.
• Sequential.
• Targeted specifically to elementary, middle and
  high school students.
• The right content at the right time.

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Work Readiness

• The source
• Junior Achievement has this much-needed K-12
  curricula, in place and ready to go.
• JA provides proven, volunteer-led programs that
  help young people open their minds to their
  potential and prepare for the world of work.

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Work Readiness

• The source
• Junior Achievement (JA) inspires and prepares
  young people to succeed in a global economy.
• JA programs teach students age-appropriate,
  hands-on lessons about the Three Pillars of
  student success in the new economywork
  readiness, financial literacy, and
  entrepreneurship.
• JA programs help create responsible global
  citizens.

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Work Readiness

• A great example
• JA Careers with a Purpose
• It helps high school students answer the question
  What do you want to be when you grow up?
• It guides students to discover an individual
  noble purpose, or calling, and explore the
  role that ethics and values play in making career
  and life decisions.
• It communicates the importance of work
  readinessof acquiring the skills and knowledge
  that young people need to get the job or start
  the business of their dreams and to create the
  difference they want to make in the world.

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Work Readiness

• JA volunteers
• Junior Achievement needs volunteers to deliver
  valuable educational programs, such as JA Careers
  with a Purpose, to students in the classroom.
• Your experience and guidance can make a real
  difference in students lives and futures.

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Work Readiness

• Its rewarding to volunteer.
• Become actively engaged in the community.
• Immediately experience the personal fulfillment
  derived from helping young people build
  work-readiness skills and achieve success.
• Positively impact students futures, the local
  business climate, and the global economy.

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Work Readiness

• Its easy to volunteer.
• Lesson plans are laid out in a volunteer guide,
  and JA materials provide all needed information.
• Materials and training are provided.
• JA volunteers have great flexibility in
  delivering the program and many scheduling
  options.

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Work Readiness

• Volunteer opportunities
• To find out about volunteering to deliver JA
  programs in your area, simply visit www.ja.org or
  contact your local Junior Achievement office at
  insert local info.

Funding for JA Careers with a Purpose, a Junior
Achievement work-readiness program, generously
provided by HCA.