JA’s Global Impact

Young people are navigating profound economic and social transformation shaped by technological change, workforce disruption, and widening inequality. Whether in global capitals or rural communities, their ability to participate meaningfully in the economy will shape not only their own futures, but the stability and prosperity of the societies around them. Education that builds both skills and agency is no longer optional; it is foundational to thriving communities.

For more than a century, JA Worldwide has worked at this intersection of education and economic participation, combining deep local presence with a global network that now spans more than 100 countries. In fiscal year 2025 alone, JA delivered more than 23 million student learning experiences, equipping young people with the skills, confidence, and ethical grounding needed to create businesses, secure meaningful employment, and contribute to healthy economies.

The impact of this learning extends further than individual outcomes. As students move through JA classrooms and community-based experiences, they develop ambitions that reach beyond personal financial gain, recognizing entrepreneurship and employability as vehicles for shared prosperity, social cohesion, and long-term economic resilience.

Across urban centers, rural regions, and fragile contexts, including areas affected by political instability, violence, and displacement, young people apply these capabilities to strengthen their families, communities, and local economies.

As economic uncertainty intensifies globally, the stakes are rising. Asheesh Advani, CEO of JA Worldwide, has observed that the coming decade will demand a workforce that is not only skilled, but adaptable and entrepreneurial. Without access to relevant education, millions of young people risk being left behind, which undermines growth, stability, and social trust. JA’s approach responds to this challenge by pairing skills-based learning with a mindset shift from constraint to possibility.

The JA Worldwide Impact & Insights Report, a publication of the JA Institute, examines what happens when young people gain the tools to shape their economic futures. Across four focus areas, it presents evidence of how economic empowerment contributes to prosperity, and how prosperity, in turn, creates the conditions for thriving communities.

As Karen Reddington, Chair of JA Worldwide, underscores, “Education and economic empowerment lead to prosperity. Without prosperity for all communities, peace is not sustainable.”