Career Guidance Falls Short for California College Students

""There's a real opportunity for higher ed to do better because students want more and there's a lot of room for improvement," said Su Jin Jez, chief executive officer of California Competes, a nonpartisan organization focused on research and policy to improve the state's higher education and workforce development. "It's really critical, particularly as more first generation students, more low income students, and more students of color are going to college," Jez said. "These students are more likely to not have professional networks in their homes and in their families, so they really need guidance from higher ed.""

"The research, conducted in collaboration with the College Futures Foundation and Strada Education Foundation, analyzed data from more than 5,000 California college students and recent graduates who responded to the 2023 Strada-College Pulse survey, which examined employment outcomes, student access to quality coaching and work-based learning, and the alignment between postsecondary education and state job requirements. By examining students' experiences with career guidance and work-based learning, as well as their early career outcomes, the report found that many lack sufficient preparation for meaningful employment. The research identified opportunities to strengthen college-to-career pathways and boost economic mobility."

Only one in five California college students were fully satisfied with the career guidance they received, and many reported help arrived too late. More than 80 percent of first-year students said obtaining a better job was a very important reason for enrolling. About 60 percent reported receiving some form of career guidance. Data from more than 5,000 students and recent graduates who responded to the 2023 Strada-College Pulse survey indicate many students lack sufficient preparation for meaningful employment. First-generation, low-income students, and students of color are especially likely to lack professional networks and need stronger college-to-career pathways to boost economic mobility.

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