The season of graduation is upon us. Graduation signals that a student has met all the requirements and is prepared for the next level, but in Illinois, elementary and high schools are graduating students, even though they have not met proficiency standards in reading and math.
Chicago Public Schools has an 82.5% high school graduation rate, although only 27% of students are proficient in math and 42% in reading. In this low-hire job market with fewer entry-level opportunities available, how will they make it? Are they being set up for failure or the pipeline to prison? Around 43% of CPS students going to state community colleges are enrolled in remedial courses.
Recent graduates from colleges are facing a challenging job market. A Federal Reserve Bank of New York report on the labor market for recent college graduates found the unemployment rate for graduates ages 22 to 27 is 5.6%. The underemployment rate for recent college graduates is 41.5% — which means they are churning through low-wage jobs or working in roles beneath their educational attainment. The economy is growing, but a recent Gallup poll found that less than 50% of young adults are optimistic about their job prospects. The hiring rate — the share of the workforce that starts a new job in a given month — sits at an anemic 3.5%.
Younger generations often lack interpersonal office skills and have trouble navigating in-person meetings, understanding corporate hierarchies and dealing with conflict resolution, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Employers find young people are ill-prepared to enter the workforce. They lack experience and may lack perseverance and emotional intelligence.
A unique model in Chicago helps students close the experience and skills gaps.
Christ the King Jesuit College Prep on the West Side of Chicago provides students experience through a corporate work-study program. The initiative allows students to work one full day a week at local businesses — including law firms, banks and insurance companies. Students develop critical social and technical skills before graduating from high school. The program enables corporate partners to build a diverse pipeline of talent and mentor students. This is a successful program that should be expanded to public schools across Illinois.
Students and families have spent a lot of money on an education — only to find that the degree cannot guarantee them a job in the field of their choice. In fact, college debt is over $1.69 trillion and held by more than 42 million Americans.
The hottest field for job growth is healthcare. The demand for nurses, doctors, physical therapists and other healthcare-related jobs continues to dominate every other sector.
As a business owner, I recommend graduates pursue entrepreneurship and not be afraid to fail. Use your talent to create companies and provide services that people can use. Entrepreneurship allows you to build a career aligned with your passion. In essence, you do what you love to do and get compensated for it.
There will always be naysayers — those who say what you cannot do. Don’t listen to them. God created you with special talents to fulfill your purpose. Once you figure out why you are on planet Earth, that is the beginning of a positive journey.
In business, I did not get it right all the time. I stuck with it and refused to quit. I put God first and trusted that he would see me through every challenge. The Bible says: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything else will be added unto you.”
I woke up one morning and my company was millions of dollars in debt. I did not know how we were going to survive — but God made a way. He will do the same for you.
The following are some suggestions for graduates:
• Be faithful and diligent in all that you do. Hard work and dedication to work ethic yield great results.
• Use your network of relationships and don’t be afraid to ask people for help.
• Do not allow today’s anxieties to ruin tomorrow’s possibilities.
• Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
• Do not make excuses and blame other people. You are not a victim — you are a victor.
• Believe in yourself and never quit.
The following are suggestions for elected leaders:
• End social promotion. Do not allow students to graduate if they have not met proficiency standards in reading, math and science.
• Require students in elementary and high schools to take a trade or specialized skill before graduating.
• Illinois legislators must increase funding for youth and young adult employment through the Illinois Department of Human Services.
• Gov. JB Pritzker should opt into the federal tax credit scholarship program.
• Illinois legislators should require school boards to adopt evidence-based reforms in reading and math.
• School boards should tie teacher pay and bonuses to student performance in reading and math.
• Parents should take an active role in their child’s learning and make sure they go to school. Attendance matters.
I encourage students to embrace artificial intelligence and technology — but do not abandon the ability to think critically. Also, mastering reading, writing and math will help sharpen your skills and broaden your knowledge.
As you celebrate graduation, I encourage you not to rest on your achievement. Get busy — the world is waiting for your contribution. Congratulations to all the graduates, parents and teachers.
I write this commentary to make those comfortable graduating students who have not met proficiency in reading or math uncomfortable.
Willie Wilson is a business owner, philanthropist and former mayoral candidate.
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