64% of youth said a job would enable them to support their family with urgent needs like food, rent, and transportation and reduce their dependence on parents
75% of youth said a meaningful job must align with their passions, values, or sense of purpose — including opportunities to give back to their communities
74%of youth cited structural, systemic, or logistical barriers — including transportation, inaccessible job locations, and competing responsibilities like school or caregiving
77% of youth reported that a lack of qualifications, prior experience, or training held them back from accessing opportunities
60% of youth said their actual or perceived identity (race, age, language, gender, disability) created barriers to employment — making discrimination the most cited challenge.
