A significant gap in graduation rates remains between Hispanic students and their peers
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jul. 15, 2022 – “Stay in school” is a phrase we are all familiar with – but it remains difficult for historically underserved students to achieve the same graduation rates as their peers. Not having a diploma then continues to negatively impact their employment and earnings potential.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the unemployment rate substantially increases for individuals with less education, which also impacts median weekly earnings.
There is a saying, “Life is what happens to you while you’re making plans.” We can all remember how we felt in high school – the plans we made for after graduation, the things we were going to do, to become…then life happens, and decisions are made that change your trajectory. The good news is you can always get back on the right track – just like Jose.
Jose, the son of Mexican immigrants, left high school in 10th grade to work for his uncle in the construction industry. It was fine for a couple of years, but then he started doing research on how to achieve his lifelong dream – join the US military.
You can’t, however, join the military without a diploma (preferred) or GED (www.usa.gov). Jose’s onsite manager at Adecco told him about the Adecco Group US Foundation’s high school completion program, in partnership with Penn Foster. He was unable to pay even the discounted tuition, so the Foundation gave Jose a full scholarship. He hit the ground running – loving math, hating history – but headed towards achieving his dreams.
We are so proud to share that Jose recently graduated and is the first of his siblings to receive a high school diploma! He shared that “I’ve never had anyone to really push me to achieve anything, and I’ve never been so proud of myself.” We are so excited to see what Jose will do next and will continue to cheer him on!
At the Adecco Group US Foundation, we help people find their path through programs that contribute to economic mobility, career progression, and work equality. We know education matters. To drive our mission of addressing the skills gap, after learning that none of Jose’s three siblings graduated from high school either, we made the decision to also provide scholarships for his siblings as well to make it a family affair!
We recognize the lack of a high school diploma is truly a barrier to hire for many American workers and want to do all we can to create greater economic opportunity for all.
- Nearly 40% of all jobs in the US require a high school diploma
- Your chance of being employed rises by 33% when you get your high school diploma
- With a diploma, you’re likely to earn 40% more income than someone without one
- The U.S. Census Bureau estimates a person with a high school diploma will earn $9,634 more per year than a high school dropout
- A recent study shows that 47% of high school dropouts surveyed said that the lack of a high school diploma made it harder for them to find a good job
If you, or someone you know, needs their high school diploma and is truly committed to achieving this goal, contact us at info@adeccogroupfoundationus.org.
About the Adecco Group
The Adecco Group is the world’s leading HR solutions company. We believe in making the future work for everyone, and every day enable more than 3.5 million careers.
We skill, develop, and hire talent in 60 countries, enabling organisations to embrace the future of work. As a Fortune Global 500 company, we lead by example, creating shared value that fuels economies and builds better societies.
Our culture of inclusivity, entrepreneurship and teamwork empowers our 35,000 employees. We are proud to have been consistently ranked one of the ‘World’s Best Workplaces’ by Great Place to Work®.
The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN). The Group is powered by three global business units: Adecco, Talent Solutions and Modis.