Millions of low-wage workers across the U.S. are stuck in jobs that offer little opportunity for advancement and lack essential benefits. For many, this is not just a temporary setback—these workers often come from low-income backgrounds and now find themselves supporting their own families on similarly low wages, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. We refer to this group as Rising Talent: working adults with limited education and low career resiliency, who have yet to access the kind of opportunities that could change their financial futures.
For Rising Talent, education offers a potential escape from low-resilient jobs, which are often characterized by low wages, minimal benefits, and little stability. A bachelor’s degree can make a transformative difference, opening doors to higher-paying and more secure careers. However, systemic barriers like negative K-12 experiences, financial hardship, and limited access to technology prevent many from pursuing the education or credentials they need to improve their circumstances. To truly support Rising Talent, we believe the educational system must be rebuilt to meet the needs of these learners and help them thrive.
In order to improve Rising Talent’s connection to higher education, our expert team of researchers are utilizing national data to identify, locate, and quantify these groups to and identify their unique challenges and barriers to connect them to higher education to gain more promising and rewarding career paths and personal outcomes.
15% of U.S. working adults hold low-wage jobs earning less than $15 hours per hour, which is below a living wage in the U.S. The average per-person household income of a Rising Talent individual is $6,890, falling below the federal poverty line at $12,880.
Compared to their peers, rising talent reported the highest number of past traumas, the highest number of past incarcerations, and the poorest health.
59% of Rising Talent have a high school diploma, 22% have a GED, and 18% have no high school diploma.
26% of Rising Talent members reported not using or having access to a computer.
Rising Talent has the most to gain from postsecondary education and emerging career opportunities — and they have the potential to reshape the workforce. However, systemic challenges have kept many from advancing. This dynamic group of individuals requires a fresh approach to ensure they gain the skills needed to embrace new opportunities, including a new system of postsecondary education.
Rising Talent reportWe believe in their potential — and we're taking steps to break down the barriers that stand in their way. Discover how we're unlocking talent for a brighter future
Explore how WGU Labs is using data to better serve Rising Talent in higher education and the workforce.
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