New National Poll: Voters Rank Career Readiness Among Their Top Issues and Say Elected Officials Aren't Doing Enough

New survey from Jobs for the Future and Britebound shows broad voter support for starting career preparation earlier and for stronger action from elected officials

BOSTON, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than eight in 10 voters say preparing young people for careers should be a top or important priority for elected officials, but only 51% are satisfied with the attention officials are giving it, according to new national polling released today by Jobs for the Future (JFF) and Britebound. The Morning Consult survey of 2,001 U.S. registered voters found that career readiness ranks even with reducing the federal budget deficit (both 82%), behind only health care affordability (88%) and bringing down prices (87%), and ahead of protecting the environment (76%) and regulating tech companies (71%). It also found, though, that just 39% of voters are confident that young people leaving high school today are prepared to pursue a career path.

"Too many young people today are leaving high school without a plan, without hands-on experience, and without an adult who helped them see what was possible. At the same time, AI is changing what jobs look like faster than most schools can adjust," said Maria Flynn, president and CEO of JFF. "Voters across party lines are telling us they want more investment in helping young people prepare for this increasingly volatile world of work, starting earlier and going further than what's offered today. More opportunities for career exploration, career planning, and work-based learning are three places officials can start."

Key findings include:

• Voters see the system falling short. Just 39% are confident young people leave high school prepared for a career path, only 17% say they had a clear plan themselves, and only 23% say a counselor helped them feel prepared.
• More than one-third of young people say they aren't ready for an AI-shaped economy. Among 18- to 27-year-olds with less than five years of experience in their current field, 38% disagree that they have the knowledge and skills to use AI and other new technology in their job, and 34% disagree that they have the skills to adapt or switch careers as technology changes their industry.
• Voters want career preparation to start in middle school. Nearly all voters (96% to 97%) want middle and high schools to help students explore careers, build a plan, and gain work-related skills, and 56% to 65% want career exploration to start by middle school. Among a sample of voters who are parents, 53% want skill building to start there, compared with 44% who say it should wait until high school.
• Voters say elected officials aren't giving the issue enough attention. While 89% of voters say it's important that candidates talk about preparing young people for careers, only 51% are satisfied with the attention officials give it. At least 80% of both Trump and Harris 2024 voters say it's important for the next Congress to act.
• Voters back a concrete agenda, with hands-on experience first. At least 81% of voters support each of the 15 state and federal policies tested, led by a counselor meeting for every high school student (88%) and quality standards for work-based learning (88%). Asked to pick their top priority, more than half of voters focused on providing students with hands-on experiences before graduation, including 31% who prioritize access to credentials (31%) and 22% who recommended internships and work-based learning opportunities.

"A generation ago, preparing for life after high school meant picking from a limited number of options. Today, it means learning how to navigate many possibilities and opportunities," said Julie Lammers, president and CEO of Britebound. "Parents in this poll get that. They want to make sure that kids understand their choices and aren't foreclosing opportunities too soon. That requires starting conversations about careers by middle school, while kids still have the time to figure out what interests them before they're asked to make big decisions about their futures. Giving them that time, along with real skills and people who can guide them, is how we help them handle whatever comes next."

As voters head into the midterms, the findings show voters want career preparation to start earlier and want officials to act on it. The comprehensive research report is available at https://www.jff.org/newsroom/press-releases/new-national-poll-voters-rank-career-readiness-among-their-top-issues-and-say-elected-officials-arent-doing-enough.

Methodology

This release presents findings from a Morning Consult survey conducted September 10–13, 2026, among a national sample of 2,001 U.S. registered voters, with oversamples of 501 registered voters ages 18-27 and 500 registered voters who are parents of children under 18. Interviews were conducted online, and the full sample is weighted to approximate a target sample of registered voters by age, gender, number of children in the household, race, educational attainment, marital status, homeownership, region, and 2024 presidential vote. Results from the full sample have a margin of error of ±2 percentage points.

About Jobs for the Future

JFF transforms U.S. education and workforce systems to drive economic success for people, businesses, and communities. www.jff.org.

About Britebound

Britebound is a national, MA-based non-profit with a mission to inspire middle and high school learners to explore their interests, experience potential careers, and navigate a meaningful and rewarding future. As education and career pathways rapidly change, we are helping millions of young people today while reshaping the systems they will need tomorrow.

Media Contact:

Yveneka Lestin

ylestin@jff.org

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SOURCE JOBS FOR THE FUTURE INC