Advancing Youth Economic Mobility Through Education, Workforce Pathways, and Opportunity

Economic mobility is often defined as changes in an individual's or family's socioeconomic status over time. For young people, however, economic mobility is more than an eventual outcome. It is a developmental process shaped by access to education, workforce opportunities, supportive relationships, social capital, and experiences that help them explore and pursue future pathways.

As youth navigate the transition to adulthood, they encounter rapidly changing labor markets, rising education and training costs, evolving technologies, and persistent barriers to opportunity. Successfully navigating this transition requires access to high-quality learning experiences, career exploration, work-based learning, mentorship, and connections to the resources and networks that support long-term success.

AIR helps communities, systems leaders, employers, educators, workforce organizations, and policymakers understand and strengthen the conditions that support youth economic mobility. Drawing on expertise in research, evaluation, technical assistance, and systems improvement, we work with partners to identify effective strategies, strengthen workforce and education pathways, and expand opportunities for young people to build economic stability, career advancement, and long-term well-being.

Whether supporting local initiatives or informing state and national policy, AIR helps partners use data and evidence to create more equitable pathways to economic opportunity for all young people.

Our work includes:

• Education and career pathways that help young people prepare for postsecondary education, training, and employment;
  
• Workforce development and work-based learning opportunities, including internships, apprenticeships, career-connected learning, and youth employment programs;
  
• Youth mentoring and relationship-based supports that help young people access information, networks, and opportunities;
  
• Research and evaluation to understand the factors, programs, and policies that promote economic mobility and workforce success;
  
• Data systems, measurement, and continuous improvement approaches that support evidence-based decision-making;
  
• Cross-sector partnerships that align education, workforce, community, and employer efforts to strengthen pathways for young people; and
  
• Policy analysis and systems-building strategies that address barriers to opportunity and promote equitable economic outcomes.