To ‘Build Back Better,’ we must prepare people for the jobs we’re creating
Opinion: As Congress shapes an expansive ‘Build Back Better’ plan, it can’t forget funds for retraining, writes Maria Flynn, CEO of JFF. Otherwise, the legislation could unintentionally create millions of new jobs without preparing workers to fill them.
Employers are loosening degree requirements. But will it last?
The percentage of job postings requiring degrees fell to 7 percent this June, down from 11 percent the year before. Experts weigh in on whether it’s market churn or a longer-lasting shift is underway.
Community college enrollment is looking flat this fall
With a number of states—Colorado, Michigan, and Mississippi—reporting fall enrollment, the general trend appears flat. That’s in line with what the American Association of Community Colleges is hearing, and it raises questions about whether the country will actually see a surge in workforce training.
“1 in 3 U.S. workers under 40 have thought about changing their occupation or field of work since the pandemic began.”
— Washington Post-Schar School poll, July 2021 | Subscribe to The Job for regular updates on education and work
Companies lean in to remote internships
Companies had virtual internships thrust upon them last year. Now, large numbers say those internships are here to stay even once the pandemic subsides. We talked to colleges and businesses—from a small health-care company to Fortune 500s like Discover—about what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what’s in store this year and beyond.
As Amazon goes…
Another corporate giant offers “free college” for employees, as the competition and complexities in the education benefits market expand.
College or short-term credential? First, check your assumptions.
People often reduce college choice to either a degree or a short-term credential, writes Chauncy Lennon of Lumina Foundation. But that’s a false binary, and reveals fundamental flaws in how we think about credentials.
Is the ‘bootcamp’ market really in the millions?
A new national survey finds that 4 percent of American adults say they are enrolled in a tech bootcamp. Experts on the field say that’s absurdly high—and a sign of widespread public confusion about tech training options and the jobs they open up.
Bringing career counseling into the classroom
Career services offices are trying a novel way to expand their reach: recruiting faculty onto the team with grants to incorporate career concepts and counseling into their courses.
The nation can’t just train its way to the ‘future of care.’ We need a big rethink.
Investments in education are critical to the future of professional caregiving—but they alone won’t be enough, writes Van Ton-Quinlivan, CEO of Futuro Health. The economics and equity of the whole system need to be rethought.
Workforce initiatives aim to get back on track, even as Delta disrupts plans
Many colleges and workforce agencies were hoping this would be the semester of economic recovery and renewed focus on job training—but Delta has thrown a curve ball.
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