Owensboro, KY – Junior Achievement (JA) is working to inspire and prepare students for their futures, even as a new survey from JA by the research firm ENGINE Insights shows that many teens are concerned about their future, given the current state of the world.
The top concern, shared by nearly half of respondents (49%), is that the quality of their education will suffer due to the pandemic. Other concerns include:
– Not being able to have a job or career that pays a living wage (27%)
– Their family’s financial situation getting worse due to the economy (26%)
– Not being able to provide for themselves or their families as an adult (21%)
– Having to borrow too much for college (20%)
– They or someone they know not being treated equally as adults (15%)
The survey of 1,000 teens between the ages of 13 and 17 was conducted July 14-19, 2020.
“These results show that teens are struggling to remain hopeful in the face of the pandemic, economic upheaval, and inequity,” said Dan Douglas, President of JA of West Kentucky. “That’s why at Junior Achievement, we are committed to providing young people with the tools, resources, and support they need to navigate these uncertain times and strive toward a better future.”
JA of West Kentucky is preparing for the upcoming school year by creating digital/virtual programs for all age groups. For 8th-12th graders, students can attend JA Inspire Virtual– an all-day digital and virtual career fair experience in considering high demand/high wage careers.
With the outbreak of COVID-19, Junior Achievement is adjusting our models to meet the needs of our communities who are working to stay healthy, including teacher-led programming and virtual program delivery. For more information on any of these programs, please contact Junior Achievement at 270-684-7291, email dan.douglas@ja.org, or visit our website at https://westky.ja.org.
Methodology
This Youth CARAVAN survey was conducted by ENGINE INSIGHTS among a sample of 1,000 respondents aged 13-17. This survey was live on July 14-19, 2020.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have volunteered to participate in online surveys and polls. The data have been weighted to reflect the demographic composition of the 18+ population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to multiple sources of error, including, but not limited to sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments.
About Junior Achievement of West Kentucky
Junior Achievement, through a dedicated volunteer network, provides educational programs annually for over 21,000 area students in grades K-12 that focus on business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy and career development. If you would like to become involved with JA, call the local JA office at (270) 684-7291 or visit the website at westky.ja.org.
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