Fragmented Systems Stall Good investments
When the path from school to work is unclear, young adults feel it first. Their cities and regions absorb the impact over time.
4.3M+
Young Adults Currently Out of School and Out of Work in the United States
50%+
Counties Assessed Nationwide
More than half of all U.S. counties with measurable populations have a rate of young adults who are out of school, out of work of 11% or higher.
1M+
Young Adults Are Underemployed
Millions more are off-track to graduate, moving into the workforce, education, and funding systems that are fragmented.
Our Impact Framework
JobsFirst is building a movement by design—an intentional, structured effort to unlock pathways to economic mobility for young adults by centering local expertise and equipping communities with the infrastructure, tools, and shared frameworks to build, refine, and scale solutions that last. We align work, education, and community so that local insight transforms into economic mobility.
50,000
Young Adults on the Path to Economic Mobility
This milestone represents more than just a number; it is the result of bringing systems in sync to replace fragmentation with forward motion across the country.
How We Measure Impact
Every part of the ecosystem matters—from the partnerships incubating solutions in neighborhoods to the systems strengthening cities and regions.
Our Track Record of Systemic Return
We have proven the scalability and durability of this framework across complex ecosystems.
31,600+
people supported toward economic mobility through workforce training, education, and employment.
$212M+
in public and private capital directed toward sustainable career pathways through policy, practice, and systems change.
100,000
fewer young adults out of school and out of work in New York City since 2006.
Fuel Regional Economic Mobility
Invest in a clear, proven way to strengthen paths to economic mobility for young adults and their communities.
JobsFirst builds the infrastructure for systems change by aligning work, education, and community around shared goals for young adults. Local Drivers hold the coordination process in their cities and regions. JobsFirst provides the shared framework, proven tools, and cross-site learning that make sustained systems change possible.
JobsFirst’s systems change work has supported more than 31,600 people toward economic mobility through workforce training, education, and employment. More than $212 million in public and private capital has been directed toward sustainable career pathways. Across New York City, 100,000 fewer young adults are out of school and out of work since 2006.
JobsFirst measures systems change across four dimensions: individual outcomes for young adults, partner organizational capacity, systemwide improvements to practice and policy, and population-level changes across cities and regions. Every part of the ecosystem matters: from partnerships incubating solutions in neighborhoods to systems strengthening entire regions.
JobsFirst pursues five strategic priorities to drive systems change: building new local infrastructure, centralizing coordination, leveraging AI to accelerate impact, deepening innovation through JobsFirst NYC’s 20 years of practice, and raising the growth capital needed to realize the national vision.
JobsFirst provides investors a clear, proven framework for systems change backed by two decades of practice. More than 50,000 young adults are on clearer paths to economic mobility. Every dollar invested flows through coordinated infrastructure designed to produce outcomes that are visible, measurable, and repeatable.