Youth Opportunity White Paper

Youth Opportunity

Increasing Career Opportunities for Teens and Young Adults

May 2026

A child’s education lays the foundation for what comes next. As graduation approaches, students begin making important decisions about their future steps that can influence their confidence, direction and long-term success. This moment of transition is filled with potential, but also uncertainty. With the right support and connections, students can move forward with clarity and purpose. Through Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), United Way of the Midlands (UWM) ensures young people are supported during this critical time, opening doors to opportunity for youth across the state of Nebraska

KEY FINDINGS

• Youth (ages 16-24) are more than twice as likely as other adults to be unemployed.

• Ages 16-24 is a critical time to catch youth disengagement.

• Graduating from high school is shown to help reduce the likelihood of unemployment and increase earnings

• JAG is designed to grow youth potential by helping students graduate high school, mentoring at the individual level and providing hands-on experiences to prepare for future careers.

YOUTH DISENGAGEMENT

Youth ages 16 to 24 are among the most vulnerable populations for unemployment. In the summer of 2024, the youth unemployment rate nationwide was nearly 10%. This is 2.5 times that of the average unemployment rate nationwidei. Even though teenagers seek opportunities, there are often barriers to engaging in work or school. While some of the reasoning can be attributed to a lack of experience, there is also a significant problem with students falling out of the academic pipeline before they can graduate high school. In 2022, 7%ii of youth in the Omaha metro were disconnected, meaning they were not going to school or work. Consequently, these teenagers and young adults are likely to miss opportunities and struggle to catch upiii. In many cases, disengagement is often the first step toward long-term economic instability.

EDUCATION DRIVES EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES

Education plays a critical role in shaping opportunity and long-term financial stability. By the end of 2024, unemployment in the Omaha metro was at 2.8%iv, more than 1 point lower than the national averagev. While overall unemployment in Omaha was low relative to the rest of the country, the differences by education level are significant According to the American Community Survey, those 25 and older without high school degrees are unemployed at a 50% higher rate than those with high school

degrees. Even completing a few years of a college program decreases the rate of unemployment by 3% compared to peersv without a high school degree. A high school diploma is not just a credential it is a critical threshold for economic stability.

Unemployment Rate by Education Status (Omaha NE-IA Metro Area)

Source:ACSEducationalAttainmentbyEmploymentStatusfor25-64yearolds.20245-yearaverage.

In addition to lower unemployment, in Omaha, individuals with a high school diploma earn nearly $5,000 more annually than those who do not graduatevii. When students disengage from the education system, they begin adulthood at a disadvantage. The 7% of youth who are disconnected from school and work face significantly lower employment prospects and, when employed, earn less than their peers.

These early setbacks are difficult to overcome. Lost wages and missed opportunities add up over time, making it challenging to recover the stability and benefits that come with completing high school. Without early intervention, disengagement can set young people on a long-term path of economic hardship.

$80,000

$70,000

$60,000

$50,000

$40,000

$30,000

$20,000

$10,000

$0

$36,729.00

Median Earnings

(Omaha NE-IA Metro Area)

$67,928.00

$50,324.00

$41,533.00

Source:ACSMedianEarningsbyEducation.20245-yearaverage.

BRIDGING THE GAP

Youth disengagement is often misunderstood. Rather than a lack of motivation, many young people face uncertainty about how to navigate life after high school. When surveyed, JAG students most often identify finding a good-paying job as their biggest concern. They are thinking ahead about financial stability and have a strong desire to succeed but may not always have a clear path forward.

Additionally, when the same high schoolers were asked about their experience in the classroom, they consistently reported that career exploration and job readiness skills are among the most valuable parts of the JAG program demonstrating that access to information and guidance is a key factor in keeping youth engaged. Students are excited to work and enjoy learning new ways they can contribute to the world around them Beyond sparking interest in future career paths, these lessons have a measurable impact: 80% of JAG students report increased confidence in themselves after participating in the program.

This increase in confidence is possible through the structure and support the program provides. With 87 programs across the state, JAG serves as a connection point between school and a career by providing guidance on employability, leadership and life skills, as well as providing mentorship as a student works through barriers that may cause them to disengage in the first place. Not only does this

provide an additional support system for students facing social inequities, but it also provides a place for students to explore new opportunities

The impact of JAG is measurable and transformative. In the 2024–2025 school year, JAG students graduated at a rate nearly 10 percentage points higher than the Nebraska state averageviii positioning them for stronger employment outcomes and higher starting wages than their peers. JAG students also reflect a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, including many who benefit from additional academic and financial support. On average, students entered the program navigating multiple challenges, and over time, they made meaningful progress in key areas that support their success. Nearly 84% of the 2024 graduates are employed either full- or part-time, with 88% of those employed holding full-time positions. One student testimonial expressed strong appreciation for the program, stating: “I’m very glad that this is a course students can take, I know many middle-aged adults that didn't get the resources they needed and they are struggling to hold a job as of now. This is very helpful.” Not only are our students performing well, but they are also excelling despite difficult circumstances. Ripple effects from JAG continue beyond graduation, creating lasting opportunities for success.

Youth disengagement is not inevitable, and without intervention its consequences are longlasting. By connecting students to education, career pathways and support systems, JAG helps young people stay on track and enter the workforce prepared to succeed. Investing in programs like JAG is not only an investment in youth, it is an investment in the long-term strength and stability of our workforce and community.

About the Author

Dani Koch - JAG Data Manager, United Way of the Midlands

InherroleatUnitedWayoftheMidlands,DanileadsthedatainitiativeforJobsforAmerica'sGraduates (JAG) - Nebraska,helpingtheorganizationmeasureandimproveyouthoutcomesinmiddleandhigh schoolstudents.Throughherwork,shehopestoincreasecareerandeducationoutcomesforteenagers andyoungadultsbyprovidingtheprogramwiththetoolsnecessarytomakedata-drivendecisions.In herfreetime,Danilikestolearnnewskills,paintorplayvideogameswithherfiancée.

i. Maurer, Roy. “Youth Employment Falls in Summer 2025 as Job Prospects Decline.” SHRM, September 3, 2025. https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/talent-acquisition/youth- employment-falls-summer2025#:~:text=A%20little%20over%20half%20(53.1,year%2Dolds%20in%20July%202025.

ii “Youth Disconnection in America.” Measure of America: A Program of the Social Science Research Council, 2022. https://measureofamerica.org/DYinteractive/#Metro.

iii. “The Impact of Youth Unemployment on Economic Growth.” Generation United States. Accessed March 25, 2026. https://usa.generation.org/news/the-impact- of-youth-unemployment- on- economicgrowth/#:~:text=Young%20people%20are%20the%20future,working%2Dage%20population%20for%20support.).

iv. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Local Area Unemployment Statistics,” accessed March 25, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LAUMT313654000000003?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs =true

v. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey,” accessed March 25, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LAUMT313654000000003?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs =true

vi. U.S. Census Bureau, "Educational Attainment by Employment Status for the Population 25 to 64 Years," American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Table B23006, accessed on April 10, 2026, https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2024.B23006?q=B23006:+Educational+Attainment+by+Employment+Status+for+the+ Population+25+to+64+Years&g=040XX00US31.vii. U.S. Census Bureau, "Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) by Sex by Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over," American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Table B20004, accessed on April 10, 2026, https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2024.B20004?q=B20004&g=040XX00US31.

viii. Nebraska Department of Education. Graduation Cohort 2024–2025. 2025.https://nep.education.ne.gov/#/data- downloads