Civic Readiness and Career Success: Investigating the Intersections in Research, Policy, and Practice

The United States is confronted with intertwined economic and civic challenges: rising inequality, social disconnection, political polarization, and rapid labor market disruption driven by generative AI. Increasingly, civic learning and career-connected learning are recognized as essential for preparing individuals to thrive in this rapidly changing society and economy. Yet, these fields typically operate as separate domains, with siloed stakeholders, systems, and funding streams, and limited research exploring how they intersect. 

This project seeks to build a stronger foundation of knowledge at this intersection by examining the evidence, practice, and policies connecting civic readiness, workforce readiness, and career success. Through a review of existing research and a field scan of programs and policies, we will examine how civic readiness–the acquisition of civic skills, knowledge, and dispositions— is developed, assessed, and valued across education, work, and civic life. 

Findings will culminate in a 2027 white paper that lays out a field-informed research and practice agenda designed to strengthen both economic opportunity and civic life. By investigating the complementarities between civic readiness and career readiness, this work seeks to move the field beyond silos—and toward evidence-based approaches that advance both.

Project Team

• Primary Investigator: Joe Fuller

• Director: Kerry McKittrick

• Research Manager: Amanda Holloway 

• Research Team: Tiffany Ashtoncourt

We thank the Andrew Carnegie Foundation for supporting this work.