Professional Certifications Offer Workers With No College Degree a Pathway to Good Jobs

This report from Lumnia, Gallup, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Omidyar Network finds that workers with industry recognized certifications but no postsecondary degree have greater earning potential and career advancement than workers with just a high school diploma.

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Professional Certifications Offer Workers With No College Degree a Pathway to Good Jobs

This study from Lumnia, Gallup, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Omidyar Network emphasizes the need for industry-recognized certifications, especially for workers without college degrees. The report shares several data points related to the impact of certification attainment, including that workers with a high school education and a professional certification — but no other postsecondary education — are among the workers most likely to be in a “good job,” only second to workers with a Ph.D. Workers with high school diplomas and certifications but no postsecondary education also report greater opportunities for career advancement compared to workers with only a high school diploma and no certification. The findings from this report can inform state policymakers and individual industry on how industry-recognized certifications can potentially increase the pool of available workers and facilitate career advancement and economic mobility.

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