Alliances between universities and professional orgs can grow the talent pool and bridge the gap between education and workforce preparedness
Career Readiness

Bridging education and employment to boost workforce preparedness


Alliances between universities and professional organizations can grow the talent pool and bridge the gap between education and career readiness

Key points:

With public confidence in higher education diminishing, administrators need to lead a paradigm shift that creates a stronger emphasis on equipping students with the skills that will fill workforce gaps.

The majority of Americans do not believe that higher education is moving in a positive direction, with 68 percent saying it’s going in the wrong direction, according to a July 2024 Gallup poll. The lack of confidence stems from perceptions that institutions are not teaching relevant skills, college degrees no longer mean as much, graduates are not able to find employment, and that a college education is too expensive and leads to high student debt.

For respondents who said they do have confidence in higher education, they believe a college degree creates opportunities, like getting a better job or making more money.

Higher education indeed remains an essential tool for connecting workers to jobs. Previously, there was a perception that a person with a degree was more skilled than someone without a degree. What’s changed is the expectation that specific skills accompany an earned degree to meet a particular workforce need. According to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce 2023 report, After Everything: Projections of Jobs, Education, and Training Requirements through 2031, 72 percent of jobs in the U.S. will require postsecondary education or training by 2031.

The workforce report highlights that the fastest-growing industries demand higher levels of education compared to slower-growing sectors. Overall, occupations are increasingly requiring advanced education as job responsibilities become more complex.

One way to boost Americans’ confidence in higher education and equip students with the skills employers are seeking is by intentionally aligning degree programs with workforce and industry needs. When employer-higher education partnerships are done correctly, students learn the most sought-after skills and employers get access to talent equipped with the skills needed to move their organizational goals forward.

To earn public trust, higher education institutions should curate programs that lead to a real return on investment for students, while helping students graduate with less debt and in shorter timeframes.

Partnerships with employers and industry associations can be the conduit to the change that provides direct benefits to graduates, while also supporting the nation’s economy. In addition to influencing course curriculum, the employer-student benefits of industry partnerships can be realized through advisory boards, sponsored cohorts, and experiential learning opportunities like internships and apprenticeships.

Employers in hard-to-fill industries that work with higher education institutions to enable credit for work experiences can help provide students with an accelerated pathway to a degree.

Intentional collaboration and partnerships with employers are requirements to renew the promise of education and reinvigorate our systems of learning. These steps will boost confidence in higher education and fill workforce gaps with skilled workers.

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