This toolkit is intended for community colleges and their partners in K-12 systems and four-year
institutions who wish to collaborate on creating strong, seamless career pathways for their
students. Career pathways maps perform three main functions: they clarify and align programs and services; they link increasing levels of certification, education, and employment; and they support students in choosing among the opportunities that interest them. Career pathways maps show a progression of certificate, transfers, degrees, and career advancement. Pathways also clarify the connections among these elements and illustrate how students can move more efficiently beyond entry-level employment and help build direct connections between institutions and employers.

This toolkit by the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative is designed to develop strong employment pathways and work opportunities for out-of-school and out-of-work youth between 16 and 24 years old. The toolkit supports community-based organizations and other intermediaries to understand regional workforce needs, including labor market data and employer demands, and the knowledge that is required to guide youth towards employment.