Career Planning Starts Earlier Than You Think

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment remains higher among those with less than a high school diploma. As of April 2026, the unemployment rate for this group was 6.4%, up from 5.9% in March. A quick review of the data reveals that unemployment rates fluctuate more frequently for individuals with less than a high school diploma. In today’s rapidly changing labor market, waiting until high school to introduce career options leaves many young adults at a disadvantage. 

For years, the standard approach to answering “what’s next?” for students was late-stage career advising during their senior year of high school. In Ohio, this approach resulted in a clear mismatch between workforce demand and applicants’ qualifications. Young adults entering the workforce without higher education or a specialized credential face greater difficulty entering skilled jobs. The Ohio Department of Higher Education reports that while an estimated 64% of jobs in Ohio require postsecondary education (including certificates), only 43% of workers aged 25-64 currently hold postsecondary certifications. Consequently, the demand for skilled workers in Ohio exceeds the available supply. 

To combat this, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) is reframing student success and career planning. Through its updated Career Connections Framework, Ohio is shifting away from reactive, last-minute counseling toward a continuous, student-driven journey of discovery. By introducing career discussions earlier, counselors are no longer the only staff expected to drive this change. 

Career planning isn’t just about picking a job; it’s about unlocking potential long before graduation day. 

The Career Connections Framework

Rather than locking students into rigid tracks or expecting a 9th-grader to map out the next 10 years of their lives, the revised framework breaks career readiness into four progressive, milestone-driven phases. Developed by over 20 stakeholders, the framework establishes consistent standards for career awareness, exploration, preparation, and participation, and integrates self-awareness and agency, conscientious advising, work-based learning, and multiple pathway opportunities. Because there are no grade-based restrictions, educators have the flexibility to tailor these milestones to each student’s unique needs. 

Four key principles guide implementation:

• Student-centered: Prioritizes student milestones and experiences in ALL decisions.

• Clear and practical: Defines expectations and outcomes with the support of actionable tactics and tools.

• Locally driven: Provides standard guidance while enabling local tailoring.

• Collectively owned: Ensures responsibilities for career planning are coordinated and shared.

To read a detailed description of each principle, visit the ODEW webpage. 

The Tools to Support Career Connections

The new Career Connections website features a range of tools, each designed to address a specific implementation question: 

1. Handbook: Includes a real-world simulator to guide the application of coaching techniques that support student milestones and experiences, while detailing all four phases. 
2. Library: A curated collection of actions and resources mapped to student experiences and coaching expectations.
3. Responsibility delegation tool: Clarifies staff roles across the career planning system.
4. Quality career coaching approach: Defines core pillars and essential enablers.

Additional tools and tactics can be found on the site. 

Career Connections in Practice

• Awareness Phase: Builds the foundation for future growth and interest.
• Exploration Phase: Helps students use career assessments to understand how their aptitudes and interests relate to future careers.
• Preparation Phase: Guides students as they design post-graduate plans, conduct cost-benefit analyses, research job requirements, and select pathways aligned with their strengths.
• Participation Phase: Allows students to demonstrate experience in at least one technical skill, complete work-based learning or internships, and submit applications for college or apprenticeships.

Ultimately, the framework treats career planning not as a one-off activity or singular class, but as an integrated development journey.

Essential enablers of Career Connections 

Responsibilities do not solely rest on school administrators or counselors. Success requires unified involvement among school staff, industry partners, and families, backed by high-quality, accessible materials (‘no opt-in’). Coaching should proactively address students’ needs from elementary school through high school, not reactively during the final two years of high school.

• Regional Support: To ensure scalable and equitable access to career pathways tailored to local labor markets, explore the Career Pathways Support Network (CPSN) contact list. 
• Get Involved: For questions or support regarding the updated framework, email [email protected]. 
• Family Engagement: To discover strategies for engaging families, consider attending the online Family Engagement Leadership Summit.