Workforce Education

Community colleges are talent development engines for companies and pathways to greater opportunity for individuals from all walks of life. But, to drive student success and strengthen communities, colleges will need to contend with a rapidly changing workforce landscape and increasingly complex and diverse student needs. The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program is exploring how community colleges can meet these challenges and create robust pathways to economic opportunity for all students.

46%

Of employers claim that they have difficulty finding skilled talent

(National Skills Coalition)

54MM

Or a third of the US workforce will need to be retrained due to automation

(McKinsey Global Institute Analysis)

27MM

Adults in the United States remain unemployed or stuck in low-wage work

(Aspen Analysis of American Community Survey Data)

24%

Of today’s well-paying jobs require less than a bachelor’s degree but more than a high school diploma

(Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce)

Excellence and Equity in Community College STEM Award

A Siemens-Aspen Partnership to recognize excellent programs and their scholars.

Workforce Education Research and Tools

Based on hundreds of interviews with community college leaders and staff, employers, community partners, and students.

Labor Market Curricular Resources

Open source facilitation guides and other research-based resources to improve labor market outcomes at your institution.

Resources

Aligning Talent and Opportunity: An Employer Guide to Effective Community College Parternship

View the Publication

The Workforce Playbook

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Executive Summary: The Workforce Playbook

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CNN Business: The secret to closing the nation’s skills gap

From College to Jobs: Making Sense of Labor Market Returns to Higher Education

View the Publication