Educational Pathways for Future Jobs

A very thorough, well researched piece by Rick Wartzman. Few people have invested the effort to understand the evolution of the 'college for all' fixation. It has distorted the labor market in multiple ways-- barring people with relevant skills from many jobs due to degree requirements, encouraging people to incur massive amounts of debt through student loans, the debasing of degrees through the creation of degree programs that do not impart meaningful skills and are unrelated to the needs of employers. We need to set aside this mantra and replace it with a less catchy, but more relevant one-- "post-secondary for all." A high school diploma isn't going to be enough to get and keep a job that pays household-sustaining wages in the future. But, by creating a robust system of CTE programs (revealingly called 'non-credit' programs by community colleges), a far more extensive use of apprenticeships and other compensated, work-based learning programs, we can get more aspiring workers on pathways to prosperity. Our research Project on Managing the Future of Work Harvard Business School and The Project on Workforce at Harvard provides ample evidence of the efficacy of such approaches. #jobs #degrees #apprenticeship

What else needs to change so that kids know there are strong options if they don’t go to college? As a society, we have to get clearer on how we articulate that there are alternate pathways to careers and we need more education leaders to run with this concept. We can’t solely rely on the traditional education system to do this (even if they support it). College counselors at high schools want to help students who are interested in directly entering the workforce but often don’t know what those options are, who offers them, or how to best position students for them. I’ve seen first-hand that great options exist for high school graduates who want a stable, promising career. Take Stepful, one of EO Ventures’ portfolio companies, that is working in healthcare education. They want to connect 1 million job seekers in healthcare with jobs. So they’ve created an accelerated job training program where folks can become a medical assistant or a certified pharmacy technician or phlebotomist in less than half the time and half the cost of traditional programs. And – most importantly – participants finish and move into well paying jobs at one of their partner clients. Stepful’s founder, Carl Madi, saw a need in the healthcare market, created a company that addressed that need, and – as a result – have created a pathway for people who have high school degrees to land well-paying jobs in a growing sector with a clear career trajectory.  But more importantly, they’ve created a solution for employers who are hiring these individuals as fast as Stepful can produce them. The question is, which industries and occupations are ripe for similar innovation?  Can we create more Stepfuls? Based on the quality of founders I meet with everyday, I’m extremely bullish about the ideas and potential of startups to forge the paths to high paying jobs that will give high school students the options they need and deserve. These founders have the potential to change lives and improve job prospects, no matter the president.

Not all career pathways are created equal. The U.S. Department of Labor’s America’s Talent Strategy report highlights apprenticeships and vocational programs as the way forward. But the data tells a different story. According to WalletHub’s 2025 analysis of 108 entry-level jobs, vocational roles consistently ranked at the very bottom for job satisfaction. They also show slower wage growth, fewer advancement opportunities, and higher safety risks. They may look appealing in the short term, a quick route to a job, but they rarely deliver the durable, high paying careers families need for economic mobility. Besides that, the future of work is moving in the opposite direction.  Factories are no longer powered by repetitive labor. They’re being redesigned around software, robotics, automation, and AI. These next-generation factories won’t need operators, they’ll need engineers who can build the systems, analysts who can interpret data in real time, and leaders who can bridge strategy with technology. That’s a high skill workforce challenge and vocational training alone won’t solve it. College remains the most reliable system we have for producing large volumes of high-skill, AI-fluent talent. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics data is clear that bachelor’s degree holders earn about $1.2M more in lifetime earnings than those with only a high school diploma. As AI reshapes industries, some degrees will become even more valuable. At the same time, we have to acknowledge that higher ed does have some flaws to address. The ROI is often very uneven, with many students struggling to turn degrees into meaningful careers. Curriculums often lag so far behind industry, leaving too many graduates unprepared for the working world. The silver lining is that pressure is creating momentum. Across the country, higher education leaders are stepping up. I’ve seen the determination firsthand. AI has been rocket fuel to help CodePath in our work to reprogram higher education by driving down costs, shortening time to mastery, and expanding access to the very skills the future demands. If we listen to some, and swing the pendulum too far away from college to these vocational and apprenticeship programs, we risk optimizing for yesterday’s jobs and losing the global technology race. The real issue is how fast we can transform higher education to meet the moment. 

🌱📘 OECD - OCDE ’s policy brief “How the Green Transition Reshapes Vocational Education and Training” (Oct 2025) offers a timely, data-rich analysis of how climate goals are transforming labour markets—and what this means for VET systems. https://lnkd.in/dWmjjQdi 🔍 Key insights for the VET and skills community: 🌍 The Green Transition is a Skills Revolution - Achieving climate neutrality demands new competencies across sectors like energy, transport, construction, and manufacturing. - VET graduates are at the heart of this shift—1 in 4 young VET holders work in green-driven jobs, more than their tertiary-educated peers. 🛠️ VET’s Dual Role: Opportunity & Risk - VET graduates thrive in mid-skill green jobs (e.g. energy efficiency, electric mobility), but many also work in GHG-intensive sectors at risk of decline. - Around 8% of young VET graduates are in high-emission jobs vs. 2% of tertiary peers—highlighting the need for transition support. 📈 Adapting VET Programmes: One Size Doesn’t Fit All - For evolving occupations (e.g. EV mechanics): update curricula regularly, using real-time labour data and AI. - For rising-demand jobs (e.g. electricians): scale up training capacity. - For new green roles (e.g. hydrogen tech): build bridges to post-secondary technical education. - For declining sectors: reorient training and offer reskilling pathways. 🎓 Upskilling & Lifelong Learning: A Must - Adult VET learners need flexible, modular training with personal development plans (e.g. Finland’s model). - Yet participation gaps persist—especially among VET graduates in shrinking sectors. - Nordic countries and the UK show strong adult engagement—worth emulating. 🧭 Career Guidance: Green, Inclusive, Informed - Learners need clear info on green job pathways, salaries, and training options (e.g. Canada’s Job Bank). - Gender gaps persist—women underrepresented in green jobs, men overrepresented in GHG-intensive ones. - Guidance must challenge stereotypes and tailor support to individual skill levels. 🔧 Skills for a Low-Carbon Economy - Green jobs demand cross-disciplinary technical knowledge (STEM, law, economics) and strong soft skills (leadership, stakeholder engagement). - Sweden’s expansion of post-secondary VET (yrkeshögskolan) is a model—new programmes in clean energy, EV manufacturing, and more. 🎯 Policy Priorities - Keep VET curricula dynamic and industry-aligned. - Expand access to post-secondary technical education. - Support reskilling from high-emission sectors. - Strengthen inclusive career guidance. - Embed foundational and transferable skills in all VET programmes. 📣 This brief is a strategic compass for VET leaders, educators, and policymakers navigating the green transition. #GreenSkills #VETpolicy #SkillsForTomorrow #LifelongLearning #ClimateTransition

Your child’s O-Level results matter less than the decision you make next. That may sound wrong — but in today’s economy, it’s true. 86.9% of students passed at least 5 subjects this year. That’s good news. What matters more is which path your child takes now — because not all paths grow a child’s options over time. ~ What has quietly changed ~ In the past: * A certificate could buy time * Employers trained young workers * Wrong choices were easier to fix Today: * Entry-level jobs are fewer * Employers want proof of real skills * A poor choice shows up as slow pay and limited options by age 25 This is the hard truth: Some education pathways build skills that grow in value. Others simply delay the problem. Two students. Same O-Level results. Very different futures. One student: - Learns real, in-demand skills - Works with companies before graduating - Gains confidence and options Another student: - Collects certificates - Has little work exposure - Realizes too late that the job market has moved on The system doesn’t call this failure. But the cost appears later — quietly. ~ Three questions every parent should ask before choosing a path ~ 1️⃣ What real skills will my child have at the end? Not subjects. Not grades. Skills an employer will pay for. 2️⃣ Will my child work with real companies before graduating? Internships and projects now matter more than exam scores. 3️⃣ If my child follows this path, where do graduates realistically end up at 28? Not best cases. Typical outcomes. ~ A simple rule that matters more than ever ~ It’s not JC vs Poly vs ITE. It’s not prestige. It’s this: Does this path grow my child’s skills — or just buy time? Reskilling later is possible. But it is harder, costlier, and more stressful than building the right skills early. All paths can lead somewhere. But not all paths grow options. That decision matters more today than it did for any previous generation.

The Future of Postsecondary Education Is About Expanding Options, Not Replacing Them We're at an exciting inflection point in American education—one where learners have real choices about what comes after high school. As someone advising on #education #policy, serving as a university #trustee, AND navigating these decisions with my own high school senior, I see this shift from every angle. And what's becoming clear is that we're not abandoning college—we're building a richer ecosystem of pathways to success. The landscape of quality #postsecondary options is expanding rapidly: ✅ Structured gap years that combine global experience with college credit ✅ Intensive skills training programs placing graduates into high-demand careers ✅ Innovative associate degree programs offering instruction at accessible prices ✅ Apprenticeship degrees that let students earn while they learn ✅ Reimagined bachelor's programs integrating substantial work experience In #Colorado, I am working to launch a coalition to connect these evidence-based programs and help families navigate this expanded landscape. More to come on that effort -- soon! This isn't about college vs. alternatives. It's about matching pathways to purpose, ensuring every student can find the route that fits their goals, learning style, and circumstances. The historically traditional four-year degree remains valuable—but it's now one option among many. And that's something worth celebrating. Read more in my latest Forbes column: https://lnkd.in/gxkvkmf8 CC: Lauren Camera, Jeff Selingo, Tade Oyerinde, Kathryn Harris, Helen Young Hayes, Roger Low, Mitch Gordon, Jeff Bulanda, Ph.D. and colleagues across organizations including ActivateWork, Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI), Verto Education, Reach University, OpenClassrooms, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab, Jobs for the Future (JFF) #HigherEducation #CareerPathways #PostsecondaryEducation #WorkforceDevelopment

3 Courses That Didn’t Exist 5 Years Ago — But Will Dominate the Next 10 Your parents haven’t heard of these degrees. Your school probably didn’t mention them either. But in 2035 — companies will be hiring for them everywhere. Let’s talk about the future of education 👇 1️⃣ MSc in AI Ethics & Responsible Technology 🌍 Where it’s trending: UK, Germany, Netherlands 🧠 What it covers: Bias in AI, AI regulation, ethical algorithms, digital human rights 💼 Future jobs: AI Policy Analyst, Responsible Tech Consultant, Ethical Product Manager 🔑 Why it matters: As AI scales, governments and companies need professionals who can make it safe, fair, and human-first. 2️⃣ Master in Climate Risk & Sustainable Finance 🌍 Hot spots: France, Canada, Switzerland 🧾 What it includes: ESG metrics, green finance, climate analytics, sustainable investment 💼 Careers: ESG Investment Analyst, Climate Risk Consultant, Policy Strategist 🔑 Why it matters: Trillions are shifting into sustainable finance. This is where money meets mission. 3️⃣ Master in Human-Centered AI & Design 🌍 Popular in: Sweden, Finland, Italy, Australia 🎨 What it blends: Design thinking + AI + psychology 💼 Roles: UX-AI Strategist, Conversational Designer, Inclusive Tech Architect 🔑 Why it matters: AI products need to work for humans — not just with data. The real takeaway? These programs didn’t exist a few years ago. Now they’re leading the future of jobs. And the smartest students won’t wait until everyone else finds out. They’ll align early — and lead later. 🎯 At D-Vivid, we help students go beyond buzzwords. We find the degrees that match where the world is going — not where it’s been. 📩 DM me “FUTURE DEGREE” and I’ll share 3 future-proof options based on your strengths. #FutureOfWork #FutureReadyDegrees #AIethics #ESGcareers #HumanCenteredDesign #DVividConsultant #StudyAbroadWithClarity #NotJustMBA #StudySmart #CareerClarity

Students were told that computer science was a good bet for employment. Many computer science majors are now having trouble finding a job. This is a reminder that it is not possible to predict the future. What is possible is to empower students with the skills needed to thrive in the uncertainty that the future presents. Laura Nicole Miller offers a helpful way to prepare students for an uncertain future through the use of Ronald Beghetto’s framework that includes educating students for: likely futures, possible futures, and unknowable futures. She writes this on preparing students for unknowable futures “Educating for unknowable futures doesn’t mean we need to predict what’s next. It means we help students learn to ask better questions, adapt with confidence, and recognize their own capacity to shape change.”   Durable skills are an important part of this preparation. Being able to think critically and creatively, communicate, work in teams, learn how to learn, and engage in reflection, among other things, will help students face uncertainty with more confidence. Also helpful is introducing students to frameworks for thinking more systematically about the future. One way to do this is by teaching them strategic foresight. This is not done much in undergraduate education, but it is more important than ever. Durable skills and strategic foresight prepare students not just for likely futures, but for possible and unknowable futures as well. #FutureOfWork #DurableSkills #FuturesThinking #StrategicForesight #Employability https://lnkd.in/eUJZMNhf

170 million new jobs will be created in the next decade, with 92 million roles to be displaced, according to the World Economic Forum 2025 Future of Jobs Report. How do higher ed institutions and employers ensure that we, and the individuals we serve, are prepared for this massive shift? The global alternative credentials market is estimated to grow by $1.8B in the next four years alone (Technavio), signaling that individuals are interested in acquiring knowledge and skills through a variety of means – not just through four-year degrees. Alternative pathways – such as stackable, short-term credentials or work-based learning – allow working learners to upskill and reskill in a way that works best for them, which is especially critical given that individuals have varied lived experiences and needs. To meet this moment, we must be adaptable in our approach to talent development. As the future of work continues to evolve, our ability to keep up will be determined by whether we’re willing to rethink traditional models and invest in pathways that maximize each individual’s chance to succeed. #highered #alternativelearning #upskill #reskill #talentdevelopment