Read Junior Achievement’s Latest Alumni Report
OVERVIEW
These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between June 13-15, 2022. For this survey, a sample of 7,427 Americans age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. This includes 1,003 Junior Achievement Alumni. The poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 1.4 percentage points for all respondents and 3.8 percentage points for Junior Achievement Alumni respondents.
GENERAL IMPACT OF JA
According to the survey, just under one in five Americans (18%) have participated in the Junior Achievement (JA) program at some point during their kindergarten through twelfth-grade education. As part of their experience, more than three-in-four (76%) JA Alumni report that a volunteer from JA came to visit their class, after-school program, or another setting to teach them about money, jobs, or business. Among those who report that a volunteer came to their class, nearly two-thirds (64%) say they remember the concepts the volunteer taught them about money, jobs, or business. More than half (56%) say they are currently in a career or job, or have worked in a similar position, to the one their JA volunteer had. Ninety-two percent report that JA was a great experience overall, and nearly as many (91%) report that JA motivated them to learn. Strong majorities of JA Alumni report that JA played an important role in believing they can achieve their goals (90%), their personal development (87%), and gave them confidence in new situations (85%).
EDUCATION AND CAREER PATH
When it comes to education, jobs, and careers, similar proportions report JA positively influenced their decision to pursue higher education (84% overall – 83% White JA Alumni, 86% Black JA Alumni, 85% 2 Junior Achievement 2022 Hispanic/Latino JA Alumni), their professional development (84% overall – 84% White JA Alumni, 87% Black JA Alumni, 84% Hispanic/Latino JA Alumni), and their career path (81% overall – 80% White JA Alumni, 89% Black JA Alumni, 82% Hispanic/Latino JA Alumni). Ninety percent say it exposed them to different ways of thinking, 89 percent say it motivated them to succeed in their professional lives, and 88 percent say JA widened their horizons. Similarly, 88 percent say it made them think of new work opportunities or career paths. Four in five report that their careers are extremely fulfilling (80%). In terms of aligning education with career outcomes, nearly three-in-four (73%) JA Alumni who graduated from college say they work in a field they studied in college (71% White JA Alumni, 72% Black JA Alumni, 78% Hispanic/Latino JA Alumni). Research by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that just one-infour (27%) American college graduates say they work in the field they studied in school. Additionally, more than two-thirds (69%) of JA Alumni say they currently work in their dream career (72% White JA Alumni, 69% Black JA Alumni, 69% Hispanic/Latino JA Alumni). Research by MidAmerica Nazarene College shows that only 25 percent of Americans say they are in their “dream career.”
Thank You American Express Foundation!
The American Express Foundation provides funding support to local JA Areas with a focus on engaging American Express employees to serve as volunteers. Through their grant, Building Financial Confidence in Underserved Youth, American Express Foundation will be impacting the lives of hundreds of students with financial literacy programs like JA Finance Park. Students will be taught to make intelligent financial decisions related to income, expenses, savings and credit.
Junior Achievement USA gratefully acknowledges American Express for its dedication to JA Areas with funds to support financial literacy lessons for young achievers.
