Career Readiness Review: The Commonwealth of Virginia, United States
This report assesses how the United States Commonwealth of Virginia is preparing young
people for their working lives through career development. It builds on OECD longitudinal
analyses which identify forms of career development that can be most confidently associated
with better employment outcomes for young people. Collecting data from current secondary
school students and young adults in the labour market, the report provides an oversight
of career development in Virginia. It then explores the extent to which students are
being effectively, efficiently and equitably prepared for their working lives through
career guidance programmes. Career readiness is a policy of high importance and the
report identifies many strengths within the Virginia system. In order to enhance provision
however, there is need to update career readiness standards, frameworks and instruments,
and to engage employers and people in work more systematically within guidance activities.
Opportunity exists to better amplify labour market signalling, particularly with regard
to the skilled trades. The report highlights international practice that can be expected
to reduce inequalities in provision, linked especially to the socio-economic backgrounds
of students and their geographic location. Here, scope exists notably to draw on digital
technologies to enhance provision.
Published on December 01, 2023