As the old saying goes, it’s not just what you know but who you know. Relationships, not just knowledge and skills, play a decisive role in helping a young person transition from the classroom to a career. This perennial truth applies doubly in today’s rapidly shifting economy. Social capital — the value embedded in personal networks, mentors, and community connections — can be the key factor in whether a graduate finds a good job or struggles to get a foot in the door. Indeed, economic opportunity is rooted in the “who-you-know” network of relationships that provide young people with information and support as they pursue their careers.
Access to these networks, however, is profoundly unequal. Young people from affluent or well-connected backgrounds often enjoy a rich social-capital web of mentors, family friends, and alumni connections ready to help them land job interviews and internships — a form of social wealth. In contrast, their peers from disadvantaged communities or first-generation college students frequently face a social-capital gap that can impede their entry into the workforce, even when they have comparable academic credentials — a form of social poverty.
Thus, it is fair to say that social capital, or the lack thereof, shapes young Americans’ workforce entry and broader life outcomes. If we want Americans from all walks of life to have more social capital and opportunity, we must first examine the role of relationships in workforce readiness. We should then consider examples of schools, colleges, and employers that are innovating to build students’ and workers’ social capital, especially among those who start with fewer connections. Such an inquiry will demonstrate to policymakers, education leaders, and workforce stakeholders why investing in social networks is vital for equality and opportunity — and how to do it.
