Young people need more support to prepare for careers and lives, new 4-H survey finds

Survey accompanies launch of “Beyond Ready” initiative aimed at reaching ten million young people

Schools can’t do it alone, new 4-H survey finds

Washington, DC, October 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — America’s teens are looking for more support to develop critical career, life and technical skills that will help them succeed in the future, according to a new survey released by the National Council 4-H.

Young people surveyed believe that after-school programs are more likely than school to give them confidence (77% vs. 63% at school) and the ability to manage stress (62% vs. 49%).

Additionally, young people are seeing gaps in their current education when it comes to career paths, technical skills, and preparation for life after high school.

One skills gap noted was in financial literacy, where 41% of teens responded that they wanted to learn more about financial management. Vrishab Nooka, a 17-year-old 4-H’er from North Carolina was one of those kids until he discovered his passion for finance through 4-H.

“Being a leader in my 4-H club has allowed me to develop excellent public speaking skills, leadership qualities such as collaboration and relationship building, and the ability to think from a long-term perspective. critically to solve problems. These skills are important for any career, and through 4-H I was able to learn and master them,” said Nooka, who plans to study economics in college.

The survey also shows that while about 70 percent of 4-H teens surveyed feel ready to apply both technical and practical skills in their careers, about half of all teens surveyed not. These skills include:

• Ability to understand and use AI tools (57% feel less prepared)

• Math skills (51%)

• Data and analytics skills (48%)

• Computer and technological skills: (46%)

• Leadership and team management (41%)

• Ability to manage stress (40%)

“The world is changing rapidly for our young people and schools cannot do it alone. 4-H is there, in every county and parish, to offer all young people the opportunity to build And practice fundamental skills to help them thrive at work and in life,” said Jill Bramble, President and CEO of the National 4-H Council. “Our goal with Cooperative Extension is simple: to impact 10 million young people so that they are healthy, productive and engaged; Beyond Ready to take on any challenge in school, in the workplace, in your community and in life.

Other key findings:

• Overall, teens prioritize financial security and personal fulfillment in their future careers. When considering their ideal career, teens say they prioritize opportunities that offer good pay (81%) and benefits (73%) and work in a field they find interesting (80% ). They view aspects of workplace culture, such as mentoring opportunities (49%) and longevity at a company (39%), as less important.

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• Many industries are of interest to teens, including health, arts and entertainment, and STEM, while STEM-related fields are of most interest to 4-H youth. The top five for all teens surveyed are:

  • Health, healthcare and wellness (19%)

  • Arts and entertainment (17%)

  • Engineering (14%)

  • Computers and technology (13%)

  • Science, research and development and education (10%)

• Entrepreneurship and achieving lifelong goals are higher among 4-H youth. Data shows that 4-H youth are more confident in their ability to achieve important life goals, such as starting a business, becoming debt free, making a difference in their community, and contributing to science.

The survey of 1,116 teens ages 13 to 18, including 273 4-H participants, was conducted online by Hart Research and conducted from August 27 to September 9, 2024. It accompanies the launch of Beyond Ready, a new initiative intended to reach ten million young people. people through local 4-H programming that prepares them for future careers and success in life.

To see the full survey results, click here. Learn more about Beyond Ready. For interview requests, please contact [email protected].

ABOUT 4-H

4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, develops confident young people empowered for today’s lives and prepared for tomorrow’s careers. 4-H programs provide nearly six million youth across the United States with experiences that develop essential life skills. Through Beyond Ready, 4-H will increase that number to ten million youth each year. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and the USDA and serves every county and parish in the United States through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3,000 local Extension offices . Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The 4-H experience, supported by research, grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their community; twice as likely to make healthier choices; twice as likely to be civically active; and twice as likely to participate in STEM programs.

Learn more about 4-H at 4-H.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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CONTACT: Yolanda Stephen National 4-H Council 3019612863 [email protected]