Skill Development

Identifying training, curriculum, and skills required for employment success

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Workers need to acquire relevant skills through education or experience to survive and thrive in the economy. Our work shows why and how employers, education and training institutions, and workers can collaborate to make skill acquisition a priority in a rapidly changing world.

Featured Insights

Research
Gaps in State Workforce Priorities, Needs, and Training Programs
In an analysis of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act plans and eligible training programs, researchers found significant gaps between workforce goals and approved training programs, and identify opportunities to help states better target workforce investments into in-demand occupations.
Research
Who Could Benefit from College Credit for Prior Learning?
Awarding college credit for industry credentials, military training, and other types of prior learning can establish on-ramps into college and build on the knowledge and skills that individuals bring with them.
Expert Insights
Promising Practices for Building Stackable Credential Infrastructure
Nine promising practices can help educational institutions and states design and implement stackable credentials—a short-term credential that builds toward a higher-level qualification.
Research Summary
Strengthening Partnerships Among Colleges, Workforce Development Boards, and Employers to Meet Regional Needs
Effective regional collaboration is essential to address interconnected challenges across education, workforce development, and economic growth. Collaboration is especially vital in rural areas, where geographic isolation, smaller populations, and limited resources can hinder independent efforts.

Skill Development

Featured Insights

Gaps in State Workforce Priorities, Needs, and Training Programs

Who Could Benefit from College Credit for Prior Learning?

Promising Practices for Building Stackable Credential Infrastructure

Strengthening Partnerships Among Colleges, Workforce Development Boards, and Employers to Meet Regional Needs

More Publications

Career Technical Education and Workforce Opportunities in West Virginia: Alignment and Areas for Growth

The State of Apprenticeship in West Virginia

Examining Short-Term Credentials and Student Outcomes in Indiana

Sustaining Strong Rural Partnerships and Interventions to Serve Student and Regional Workforce Development Needs

Translating Military Skills into Energy and Infrastructure Careers: Occupational Matches, Credentials, and State Planning Guidance

Construction Apprenticeships Will Fail to Meet Projected Needs, Exacerbating Housing Crisis

Charting Employers' Human Capital Investments in Frontline Retail Workers: Evidence from SEC Filings

Income Share Agreements: Market Structure, Communication, and Equity Implications of a Student Loan Alternative

The Value of Education and Training After High School: How Postsecondary Credentials Impact Earnings

Building Ohio's Workforce Through Stackable Credentials

Are Income Share Agreements Fair? A Close Look at the Potential Risks and Benefits of an Emerging Financial Aid Option

The Credentials Students Earn Beyond a High School Diploma

Trends in Postsecondary Education

Stacking Educational Credentials in Ohio: Pathways Through Postsecondary Education in Health Care, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, and Information Technology

Supporting Middle-Skills STEM Workforce Development: Analysis of Workplace Skills in Demand and Education Institutions' Curricular Offerings in the Oil and Gas Sector

Preparing New York City High School Students for the Workforce: Evaluation of the Scholars at Work Program

What Happens When You Combine High School and College? The Impact of the Early College Model on Postsecondary Performance and Completion

The Appalachia Partnership Initiative's Investments in Education, Workforce Development, and Catalyzing the Community: Reflections from 2014 Through 2019

A One-Stop Approach to Supporting the Nonacademic Needs of Community College Students: An Evaluation of Single Stop's Impact in North Carolina

Energy-Sector Workforce Development in West Virginia: Aligning Community College Education and Training with Needed Skills

Effectiveness of Screened, Demand-Driven Job Training Programs for Disadvantaged Workers: An Evaluation of the New Orleans Career Pathway Training

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