Fixing the Broken Marketplace

A Statewide Look at Washington’s Education-to-Career Pathways.

Too many young people are being asked to navigate the path from school to a meaningful career without a clear roadmap. In Washington, only 47% of young adults say they feel prepared for the future job market, and two-thirds say they don’t know where to start or which resources to trust.

That disconnect matters. Washington has strong education and workforce resources, employers who want to engage, and talented young people ready to contribute. But when information, programs and pathways aren’t connected, it can be difficult to translate those resources into real opportunity. The challenge isn’t simply creating more programs. It’s making the system work better together.

Building on the Schultz Family Foundation’s national Broken Marketplace research, we funded a deeper look at Washington’s school-to-career system to understand where those connections are breaking down and where they can be strengthened. Conducted by HarrisX in partnership with Washington STEM, the research brings together the perspectives of nearly 3,000 young adults, parents, career navigators and employers to provide a fuller picture of how young people move from education into the workforce.

The findings point to a clear opportunity for better coordination, clearer navigation and stronger connections across education and workforce systems so more young people can find meaningful careers and economic mobility.

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