Young Americans in the midst of starting their career paths are eager to find work and be successful, but neither their families, educators nor employers are preparing them or providing tools they need. 

The Broken Marketplace: America’s School-To-Work Crisis from the Schultz Family Foundation and consultant HarrisX  surveyed thousands of people aged 16 to 24 about their ambitions and how they are being prepared for their futures. Their responses, as well as input from parents, educators and employers, revealed deeply fractured pathways for careers and jobs, according to a release. 

More than four in 10 young adults surveyed said the education system (43%) and the employment resources (45%) to which they have access are broken and not providing them with effective guidance. They voiced worry that employment will become even more difficult as AI impacts the job market. Most are relying on social media to guide their educational or career pathways. 

Overall, nearly half (46%) said they feel unprepared, or are unsure of their preparation, for jobs of the future. 

“There are so many paths, but each path allows you to go down one path and not explore others … (There’s) a lot of different options out there ... and each one expects something different … there’s so much knowledge (that I) can’t get,” said one 20-year-old male survey respondent. 

Those in a position to support and guide young Americans also see challenges but often ignore or unaware of how they contribute to them. For example, 77% of surveyed employers report requiring at least a year of experience from those seeking entry-level jobs, yet most do not offer internships, apprenticeships or other programs designed to provide early-career experience.  

Most parents (93%) reported that school is preparing their young adult for the workforce, but 52% of employers said there is a mismatch in school curricula and the skills their industry needs. 

“What we found is that employers, educators, and parents are caught in a finger-pointing loop in the Broken Marketplace, each expecting the other to fill the gap,” said Dritan Nesho, CEO and head researcher at HarrisX, in a statement. “The result is a vacuum of relevant and reliable support for young adults, which has pushed them increasingly towards social media and away from traditional guidance systems.”