Take a Closer Look at Junior Achievement

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MANITOBA ASKS MANITOBANS TO…

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK!

Study reveals the positive IMPACT of business education on Manitoba youth

As Financial Literacy Month approaches this November, it is important to take a closer look at the presence of standardized and formalized business education in elementary, middle and high school core curricula. It is equally important to take a closer look at the positive impact this curricula offers our youth and society; so says Junior Achievement of Manitoba (JA) and the findings of a recently released independent study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) - Making an Impact, Assessing Junior Achievement of Canada’s Value Creation.

In short, the study finds business education programs, delivered through JA, make a substantial annual impact on our economy and empower youth with aspirations and abilities that unlock their potential and maximize their own personal value creation.

Key findings suggest JA, through its financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs, produces financially literate graduates that save more, borrow less and enjoy increased prosperity. A majority of alumni (over 75%) credit the organization as being the driving force behind their financial literacy and decision making skills, analytical abilities and business sense. JA graduates are better prepared for the workforce, resulting in accelerated career tracks, altered trajectories and more skilled employees for employers. A majority of alumni cite their participation in JA as providing a significant impact on their ability to get a job, perform on the job and attain increased incomes – 50% higher on average. JA also produces graduates who are more likely to become entrepreneurs, create jobs and power our economy. Alumni attribute JA as the catalyst that gave them the confidence and ambition to open their own businesses and transform their lives. And notably, in terms of societal prosperity, the findings conclude JA returns $45 for every $1 invested, and that the annual overall impact on Canada’s economy, directly attributed to the work of JA and its alumni, is $535M.

“After more than 55 years, 3.7 million graduates and countless hours of instruction time, it seems only natural that JA, like any organization, would want to know if it is has been succeeding… if it has made a difference,” says Greg Leipsic, President & CEO, JA Manitoba. “These findings clearly indicate JA is succeeding across all program areas, and we are delighted our programs continue to make a positive impact on the lives of youth across Manitoba.” Annually, through its local Charters, educational partners and over 13,000 dedicated business mentors, JA delivers its programs to more than 230,000 students in over 400 communities. 

 “JA provides a transformational event that alters ambitions and encourages youth to do more with their lives,” says Leipsic. “We deliver the skills and confidence required for them to achieve those great things and finally, those skills and ambitions come together in improved outcomes - different “Achievers”follow different paths but, on average, they outperform their peers substantially and explicitly credit JA for that causal impact.”

The study, independent of any review from JA, represents the culmination of a yearlong research project.  “We began with the development of an organizational and market fact base,” says James Tucker, Principal at The Boston Consulting Group in Toronto. “This then led to over 50 interviews with various stakeholders, and culminated in a large quantitative study.  More than 500 JA alumni shared their perceptions of the impact JA made on their lives, careers and abilities, and more than 5,000 Canadians who did not have a JA experience answered the same questions to create a baseline against which to compare alumni experiences.”

For a complete copy of the report and to learn more about the IMPACT of JA, please visit www.JAimpact.com

About The Boston Consulting Group

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world’s leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with74 offices in 42 countries. For more information, please visit www.bcg.com.