Addressing the Mismatch Between Future Workers and the Supply of Postsecondary Awards: A recently published report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce analyzed the misalignment between credential supply and labor market demand at the subbaccalaureate level. Researchers determined that the U.S. economy is expected to create an average of 18.5 million job openings annually through 2031, with approximately 31% of these openings for workers with an associate degree, certificate or some postsecondary credit but no degree. However, the report also uncovered substantial misalignment between the current supply and projected demand for these credentials across multiple local labor markets throughout the nation.
The supply-demand relationship for subbaccalaureate credentials differs widely across career fields. For instance, jobs in sales and office support will account for 27% of openings, but only 4% of certificates and associate degrees are awarded in these fields. Relatedly, skilled trades jobs will account for 23% of openings, with only 12% of subbaccalaureate credentials awarded in these programs. On the other hand, 10% of subbaccalaureate credentials are awarded in education but only 3% of job openings are projected in education occupations that require less than a bachelor’s degree.
More findings below:
- Rural areas experienced the highest levels of misalignment with the most alignment found in or near large cities.
- American Indian/Alaska Native adults were the most likely (5.3%) to live in communities with no local subbaccalaureate credential provider in comparison to white (1.6%), Hispanic/Latino (0.7%), Black/African American (0.6%) and Asian American adults (0.3%).
Noncredit Workforce Training, Industry Credentials and Labor Market Outcomes: The Annenberg Institute at Brown University has released a research paper that examines the labor market returns of industry-recognized credentials connected to community college noncredit programs. The analysis is based on data of around 24,000 working-age adults enrolled in FastForward noncredit workforce training programs at the Virginia community college system. Results indicated that earning industry-recognized credentials, on average, increased quarterly earnings by $1,000 as well as the likelihood of gaining employment by 2.4%.
Top findings below:
- Among the six career fields examined, transportation produced the most earnings gains from attaining an industry credential, with earnings increasing by more than $1,800 (a 21% increase from before FastForward participation).
- A major factor in earnings increases from FastForward is mobility from lower-paying to higher-paying occupations and industries like transportation and construction.
- Findings suggest that variations in return on investment across race/ethnicity, gender identity and age are primarily associated with students choosing higher-earning or lower-earning career fields.
Spring 2024 Community College Enrollment: The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center has published its spring 2024 enrollment estimates. Top findings for two-year institutions and comparisons between 2024 and 2023 enrollment levels below:
- Community college enrollment gains again led growth across the higher education sector, with an increase of 4.7% or more than 200,000 students.
- The following CTE program areas saw enrollment increases at two-year institutions: mechanic and repair technologies (+14.2%), precision production (+10.2%), construction trades (+8.1%), and personal and culinary services (+7.7%). In addition, the general health services major at community colleges increased by 27.5% as part of an overall growth in enrollment in health care fields.
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