Every Young Person is Prepared
for Future Success

Empowering Our Nation’s Young People With the Skills and Support to Succeed in Education, Employment and Life

Discover the life-changing impact of JAG NJ.

JAG New Jersey

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation serves as the state affiliate for the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program, a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting young people of great promise (ages 12-24) since 1980.

In more than four decades of operation, JAG NJ has delivered consistent, compelling results – helping more than 1.5 million young people across the country stay in school through graduation, pursue postsecondary education, and secure quality entry-level jobs leading to career advancement opportunities.

The JAG Model consists of a comprehensive set of services designed to keep young people in school through graduation and improve their success rates in education and career pathways.

Since 2012, young adults participating in Jobs for America’s Graduates New Jersey have graduated at a rate of 93% to 100%—while their school peers have graduated at a rate of 36% to 93%.

Graduation rates alone don’t tell the entire story, though. JAG NJ participants typically find full-time employment at more than nearly four times the rate of their peers and they report changes in attitude towards education, increased attendance and optimism about their futures.

JAG New Jersey Participants

Graduation Rate
93% to 100%

School Peers

Graduation Rate
36% to 93%

JAG New Jersey Students

School Peers

65.73%
3.1%

Employment Rate

The percentage of graduates who are employed (full-time and part-time) in civilian or military jobs.

69.23%
22.9%

Full-Time Employment Rate

Of the graduates who are employed, the percentage that are employed full-time (30 hours x week) in civilian or military jobs.

55.62%
32%

Further Education Rate

The percentage of graduates who are enrolled in 2-year and 4-year colleges/universities, trade schools or other formal post-secondary training/certification programs.

*

School peer comparison data is from:

https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/school/list

https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/microdata/access/2020.html

Partnering Programs

Schools and community-based organizations currently participating in the Jobs for America’s Graduates New Jersey initiative:

Atlantic City

  • Covenant House (out-of-school program)

Camden

  • Camden High School
  • Eastside High School

Carteret

  • Carteret High School

Little Egg Harbor

  • Pinelands Regional High School

New Brunswick

  • New Brunswick Adult Learning Center C.A.R.E.S. Program

Newark

  • Barringer High School
  • Central High School
  • Leaders 4 Life (out-of-school program)
  • Malcolm X. Shabazz High School
  • Weequahic High School
  • West Side High School

Passaic

  • Passaic High School

Plainfield

  • Plainfield High School (2 programs)
  • Pinnacle Academy High School

Vineland

  • PathStone (out-of-school program)
  • Vineland High School

School Implementation

In partnering schools, the JAG NJ model is implemented during the academic year as an elective, credit-bearing class.

School personnel identify students with at least six indicators who will benefit from the competency-based employability skills curriculum.

The program is modified for out-of-school programs.

For more information please contact Sandra Strothers at Sandra.Strothers@njchamber.com.

Employer Engagement

Employer engagement is a critical component of the Jobs for America’s Graduates New Jersey initiative.

Opportunities for mentoring, classroom presentations/trainings, employee recruitment, internships, job shadowing and more are available on the volunteer registration page.

Volunteer

2023 JAG NJ Career Development Conference First Place Winners in the “JAG NJ Matters Video Competition“

Carteret High School participants Jose Ledesma, Justin Ortiz, Jhoalvin Ledesma, Cameron Browne, Joseph Ricciardelli and Matt Osifo showcase why the Jobs for America’s Graduates New Jersey program matters