The business community has a vested interest in providing meaningful experiences for learners that better connect their education with the workforce. But there is a pervasive disconnect between what learners know and what companies need. Only 35 percent of students say they are prepared for a job, and 50 percent of young people are unemployed or underemployed.
This report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Strada Education Network examines the role that employers play in engaging institutions of higher education to better align pathways with workforce competencies. The report profiles ten colleges and programs, drawing on interviews with career development leaders to identify two themes:
- First, that career development must be embedded in the entire student experience, and
- Second, that career development offices must recognize that students are no longer their only clients.
This is an instructive resources for employers, postsecondary career development officers, and any other individuals interested in strategies to align postsecondary pathways with employer needs.
