Abstract: Career mobility in the contemporary United States increasingly depends on workers' capacity to navigate a fragmented, nonlinear labor market characterized by repeated transitions and structural uncertainty. This analysis examines how low-wage workers and community college students interpret labor market signals, make career decisions, and pursue advancement amid systemic constraints. Drawing on mixed-methods research that includes nationally representative survey data and qualitative interviews with workers, students, and career coaches, this study reveals that career navigation capacity is shaped not solely by individual motivation but by access to reliable information, diverse social networks, stable employment conditions, and institutional guidance. Findings demonstrate that existing education and workforce systems remain oriented toward linear career pathways despite the prevalence of career pivots driven by economic shocks, credential barriers, and employer screening practices. The study concludes by proposing a framework for strengthening career navigation infrastructure through coordinated investments in information systems, social capital development, job quality improvements, skills cultivation, and professionalized coaching services.
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