Generation Durability: The Power of Employment that Endures
New data from Generation’s 2025 Global Alumni Survey show that lasting employment advances careers, strengthens families, and shapes systems for durable economic mobility.
Ten years ago, Generation set out to help people build sustainable livelihoods. Today, that vision is stronger than ever, and the latest data prove its durability. Findings from the 2025 Global Alumni Survey of over 4,500 respondents show that graduates are not only finding work but sustaining meaningful careers that create long-term security for themselves and stability for their families.
This year’s results mark a milestone: the clearest evidence yet of how Generation’s model delivers lasting economic mobility. Graduates continue to advance years after completing their programs—earning steady incomes, progressing into higher-quality jobs, and contributing to the resilience of their communities.
Consider the young mother who now funds her children’s education, or the midcareer professional who transitioned into tech and now mentors others to do the same. Across 17 countries, thousands of stories like these demonstrate the power of durability.
From job placement to lifelong progress
Generation’s approach begins with a clear definition of what makes work sustainable. Drawing on the Good Jobs Institute framework, we assess job quality across five dimensions—from stability and living wages to purpose and belonging. This blend of economic and personal indicators shows whether graduates are thriving not only in their roles but in their lives as well.
The results are striking. Two to five years after completing their programs, most Generation alumni remain employed and advancing. The vast majority are in jobs that offer stability, growth, and purpose, and nearly three-quarters earn at or above a living wage. More than half have already progressed beyond entry level.
Behind every data point is a story of transformation. “Generation educated me about the market, transformed my usual mindset, and opened my mind.” – Gilberto (Brazil graduate)
“Generation believes that earning a living wage is the foundation for lasting economic mobility,” says Mona Mourshed, Generation’s Global CEO. “When people earn enough to meet their needs and plan for their futures, they gain not only financial security but the ability to shape their lives.”
Economic mobility that multiplies
Durability creates momentum. As graduates advance, their progress strengthens families and local economies. In many households, alumni now provide the primary income—paying for education, healthcare, and improved housing. “To this day, I eat thanks to Generation, I pay my children’s school fees thanks to Generation, I pay my rent thanks to Generation. If it weren’t for Generation, I don’t know where I would be.” – Stanley (Kenya graduate)
Over time, this stability compounds. Alumni are earning significantly more than when they entered their programs and are far likelier to save for the future. Over 80% can meet daily needs, setting aside income each month for school fees or healthcare, and 40% are building savings cushions that protect against economic shocks. Across countries, household well-being has improved, and educational attainment among graduates themselves has risen sharply—laying the groundwork for intergenerational progress.
Sustaining success: strengthening the alumni journey
The path from first job to lasting career is rarely linear. Generation’s data show that the first two years after graduation are the most critical—when alumni are likeliest to change jobs, encounter setbacks, or shift industries. To help them navigate that period, Generation is now testing new offerings including targeted coaching, professional-development sessions, and rapid re-entry support that keep careers moving forward.
Continuous employment compounds success. Alumni who remain steadily employed report markedly higher job quality—over 90% cite greater stability, fairer pay, and a stronger sense of
To reinforce this momentum, Generation partners with employers to outline clear progression paths and to offer new AI-based training modules that help workers adapt as technology evolves.
In several countries, Generation teams host career-pathway sessions with employers, helping alumni identify advancement opportunities. Career-coaching programs pair graduates with seasoned professionals, while continued-learning resources enable ongoing upskilling. Generation has even begun offering placement support for alumni seeking senior roles, ensuring that growth doesn’t stall after entry level.
This long-term investment pays off. Graduates now report higher earnings, stronger job satisfaction, and greater community engagement. More than 80 percent of alumni say they want to give back—by mentoring learners, hiring fellow graduates, or contributing to new cohorts. Alumni rated Generation 7.7 out of 10 for fulfilling its mission—testament to the trust and sense of belonging that sustain the network.
The path forward: Deepening durability for the decade ahead
As Generation enters its second decade, the goal is not only to sustain impact but to scale it. We are deepening our focus on alumni advancement, wage growth, and the system-level levers that make durability measurable and repeatable.
Durability has become the foundation of Generation’s impact and advocacy agenda. From the start, we have measured employment and income outcomes to answer a simple question: “Does the change last?” Building on that foundation, Generation is expanding its durability analytics to identify how to accelerate living-wage attainment and long-term career growth. This includes supporting independent impact assessments and counterfactual analyses to ensure results are robust and replicable.
Beyond measurement, Generation aims to make durability tracking the norm rather than the exception. Through multi-year advocacy, training, and thought leadership – most notably as an inaugural member of The Durability Collective – we are helping redefine how systems measure job quality and economic mobility. The decade ahead is about turning resilience into reach—widening the circle of opportunity so that every graduate, family, and community can share in progress that endures.
