Compact for America's Youth: Connecting Students to Careers in AI Era

September 10, 2026 October 4, 2026

Editorial Staff

Industry and Education Leaders Launch Initiative to Bridge Youth to Careers in AI Era

WASHINGTON—A coalition of leaders from industry, labor, education, and philanthropy have announced the Compact for America's Youth, urging public and private entities to create concrete pathways from education to career for young people. Spearheaded by AFT, CareerWise, and Jobs for the Future, the initiative was unveiled at a forum on September 10 in Washington, D.C., where initial commitments were disclosed.

This compact addresses three major challenges facing young people entering the workforce: affordability, anxiety, and the surge of artificial intelligence. These factors impact the critical decade from ages 16 to 26, during which individuals acquire education, experience, and networks vital to their future. The compact calls for organizations to make public, actionable commitments in three areas: mobilizing industry investment, enhancing systems and policies, and implementing innovative tools and resources.

The forum featured key figures such as AFT President Randi Weingarten, CareerWise President and CEO Brent Parton, Jobs for the Future President and CEO Maria Flynn, and RAISE US CEO Gina Raimondo. Business leaders from companies like General Motors, Micron, Aon, and Siemens Foundation, along with representatives from labor unions and philanthropic organizations, also participated.

“Every young person deserves to see real pathways from the classroom to success in life, be it college, career or both; and our members are the ones helping to build those pathways every day,” remarked AFT President Randi Weingarten. “That’s why we’re coupling our passion with a substantial investment for this effort—$150,000 to help affiliates turn interest into action, whether that's a robotics club, a welding partnership with a local employer, or a first taste of a career in middle school. AI is changing what the future of work looks like, and it’s changing it fast. Our job is to make sure young people aren’t left to navigate that alone—that they have educators, labor and employers walking the pathway with them. This compact is a commitment to do that work together, and to hold each other accountable for results.”

Brent Parton, president and CEO of CareerWise, emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative, stating, “AI is reshaping what an early career even looks like, and the years that should launch a young person—the last stretch of high school, a first real paid job, the first two years after—aren't working as a launchpad for enough of them. No single employer, school or union fixes that alone. What’s new here is a compact across the public and private sectors, everyone standing behind young people at the moment that decides the next decade of their lives.”

Maria Flynn, president and CEO of Jobs for the Future, highlighted the evolving workforce landscape due to AI, saying, “Helping young people get a strong start in the workforce has long been central to JFF’s mission, and that work is even more important as AI reshapes how people enter and advance in their careers. Young people need more than technical skills. They need meaningful early experiences with the world of work, clear information about the opportunities available to them, and pathways that connect learning to economic mobility. Through our partnership with LinkedIn, we’re building on JFF’s longstanding investment in early-career support by examining how AI is changing entry-level jobs and what it will take to help young people navigate and succeed in a rapidly changing economy.”

The First Commitments

During the forum, various organizations announced their initial commitments, including funding, new program launches, shared curriculums, digital tools, and efforts to create more paid pathways for young people.

The AFT is allocating $150,000 in new Career Pathways Partnership Grants to local affiliates to foster career-connected learning through work-based learning programs and partnerships with employers and educational institutions.

JFF and LinkedIn are collaborating on a $400,000, one-year initiative to assess the impact of AI on early-career jobs and the necessary skills for young people to adapt, aiming for systemic improvements in early-career support.

North America’s Building Trades Unions and Microsoft introduced the Jobs Machine, an AI-driven tool aiding students, parents, and job seekers in exploring construction apprenticeship programs.

The AFL-CIO’s Working for America Institute is working with the AFT to pilot WAI's MC2 (Manufacturing Core Curriculum) in high schools by 2027.

General Motors is contributing $500,000 to the Manufacturing Futures program, which aims to connect Detroit-area middle school students to advanced manufacturing careers.

RAISE US is partnering with the AFT to better prepare higher education institutions for AI-driven changes in the workforce.

The Siemens Foundation is pledging $2 million to expand CareerWise's radiologic technologist apprenticeships across the nation, extending the model to additional cities.

The Walton Family Foundation is investing $5 million in CareerWise to launch the “Apprentice Ready Schools” initiative, which will establish direct links between high schools and industry partners, impacting up to 60 districts and charter networks.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is supporting CareerWise to align education and apprenticeship systems across five states, fostering sector-based models to expand youth apprenticeship opportunities.

Sean McGarvey, President of NABTU, commented on the initiative's potential, saying, “The building trades have been the original jobs machine for generations, creating pathways to the family-sustaining, middle-class careers through world-class Registered Apprenticeship programs. Today, we’re proudly partnering with AFT, Microsoft Elevate, ASCA and CareerWise to bring that opportunity to more young people than ever before. The Jobs Machine will help students, parents, families and educators navigate apprenticeship pathways with the same confidence they have when exploring college options. Because every young person deserves the best access to clear information, real opportunity, and a chance to build a successful future through our fantastic skilled-trades programs.”

Elizabeth Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO and WAI’s board of trustees, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, saying, “Providing America’s youth with the vital skills needed to create rewarding and sustainable careers goes to the heart of WAI’s mission, and we are excited to expand our important work with this initiative.”

David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation, highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating, “Across the country, there are high-demand careers offering young people a path to economic opportunity, but we need stronger pathways to connect people with those jobs. By bringing together employers, educators, government and workforce organizations, we can continue to create sector-focused partnerships to strengthen these pathways. We congratulate CareerWise on this impactful work and look forward to expanding access to additional programs in New York and across the country.”

About CareerWise

CareerWise is a national nonprofit focused on connecting young people to careers through education-to-career pathways, moving beyond traditional college models to create meaningful career opportunities. With a decade of experience, CareerWise supports over 2,500 apprentices and collaborates with 80+ intermediaries across 35 states.