Preparing students for life after graduation involves more than helping them earn a diploma. It means equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in the real world. Skills like financial literacy, effective communication, and a basic understanding of how businesses operate are essential for building confidence and unlocking lasting opportunities.

To meet this challenge, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board have formed a partnership aimed at helping today’s high school students acquire the skills necessary to thrive in their careers and contribute to a stronger workforce for the future.

At Issue: Too Many High School Grads Aren’t Workforce-Ready 

A survey from College Board and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reveals a growing concern among hiring managers: most high school graduates aren’t prepared to enter the workforce. The 2025 New Hire Readiness Report, based on responses from 500 hiring managers across companies of all sizes, highlights a disconnect between the skills employers need and the preparation students receive.

Key findings include:

• 84% of hiring managers say high school grads are not ready for work.

• 80% believe today’s grads are less prepared than previous generations.

• Trade schools and four-year colleges are seen as better pathways to early-career readiness.

• Employers value real-world experience, industry credentials, and soft skills like communication and critical thinking.

• 92% support more business education in high school.

As the nature of work evolves, this report underscores the urgent need to rethink how we prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.

Business and Education Join Forces to Close the Gap

As the world’s largest business organization and network, the U.S. Chamber represents the collective voice of the business community, which can support high schools with valuable guidance on what career skills are needed for success.

Together, the U.S. Chamber and College Board will work to create more career pathways for America’s high school students through AP courses in two in-demand fields: starting with Business and Personal Finance, followed by Cybersecurity.

Introducing AP Business with Personal Finance

AP Business with Personal Finance will equip students with essential business and personal finance skills through project-based learning and case studies with real companies. The AP Program has developed a comprehensive approach to teaching business and personal finance, building on synergy between the two disciplines to improve student mastery of both.

It’s essential that all high school students have the opportunity to learn what will be presented in this course. In AP Business with Personal Finance students will:

• Gain a deep understanding of the field of business and its role in society
• Discover how businesses create value and earn profits by meeting customer’s needs
• Learn personal finance concepts to enhance business knowledge and financial decision making

These skills are foundational to student success and for preparing our nation’s future workforce. To reflect this, students who earn a qualifying score on the AP Exam will earn a credential signifying their attainment of essential workplace-ready skills valued by employers.