Benefits of Workforce Development Programs

Did you know that 756,384 working-age adults in Illinois currently lack a high school credential? This statistic isn't just a number—it's a call to action for us all during Advocacy April. Why? Because every individual empowered with education is a step toward a stronger, more resilient economy and a healthier, happier family life. Here’s how: 👨👩👧👦 Family Impact: Adults obtaining their high school credentials set a powerful example for their children, fostering a culture of learning and ambition. Education within the family can break the cycle of poverty and inspire the next generation. 💼 Economic Benefits: Educated workers are the backbone of our economy. They earn significantly more than those without a high school diploma, contributing to higher tax revenues and lower reliance on public assistance programs. This means more resources for community development, better services, and a stronger economy for Illinois. 🚀 Workforce Development: With a high school credential, individuals gain access to further education and training opportunities, filling skill gaps in our economy. This alignment between education and workforce needs is crucial for Illinois' competitiveness in a rapidly evolving job market. 💡 Innovation and Community Engagement: Educated individuals are more likely to engage in civic activities, volunteer, and contribute to societal innovation. Their diverse experiences and insights are invaluable to creating vibrant, inclusive communities. Let's advocate for and invest in adult basic education. It's an investment in our people, our economy, and our future. Together, we can transform this statistic into a story of success and empowerment for Illinois. #AdvocacyApril #AdultEducation #EconomicGrowth #FamilyEmpowerment #WorkforceDevelopment Coalition on Adult Basic Education Erin Vobornik

Organizations don't need to create new, high-tech solutions to close the talent gap. Apprenticeships have been around for thousands of years for one simple reason: They work. They combine real-world experience with classroom instruction. They create career paths in high-demand fields like healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing. And critically, they expand access to opportunity, especially for people who've been left out of traditional education pipelines. We've long supported apprenticeship programs as a proven solution to workforce challenges. The data speaks for itself: • 4 in 5 organizations with apprenticeships say they help address talent shortages. • 91% of workers who complete apprenticeships stay employed. • They reduce turnover, cut recruitment costs, and increase productivity. • Apprenticeships are good for business and people. Let's stop seeing apprenticeships as "alternative" and start seeing them as essential. #WorkforceDevelopment #Apprenticeships #SkillsGap #FutureOfWork #HRLeadership #PeopleMatter #TalentStrategy #EconomicOpportunity #SHRM

Workforce Development Is Economic Development. Let's Stop Pretending They're Separate. Too often, we treat workforce development and economic development like they exist in parallel universes. One side is focused on attracting industries and growing local economies. The other is investing in people by upskilling, reskilling, and preparing individuals for meaningful employment. But here's the reality: there is no economic development without workforce development. Every thriving community is built on the success of its people. That means real investments in career education pathways that start in high school, not after graduation. Whether students are exploring healthcare, agriculture, information technology, or skilled trades, they deserve clear, supported tracks that lead to viable, fulfilling careers. Economic growth isn't just about buildings, business parks, or corporate tax incentives. It's about growing local talent. If we want to create sustainable communities, we must integrate workforce development directly into our economic planning strategies. That means involving educators in economic development conversations and giving employers a seat at the table in shaping what career-readiness really looks like. Let's move from parallel efforts to interconnected ecosystems. Career and technical education programs, work-based learning, and youth-focused internships are more than education initiatives. They're economic infrastructure. If your region isn't investing in its future workforce, it's not investing in its economic future. #WorkforceDevelopment #EconomicDevelopment #TalentPipeline #CareerEducation #YouthDevelopment #CTE #HighSchoolInternships #CareerPathways #CommunityGrowth #WorkBasedLearnin

🚀 What if we stopped training people for just any job and started preparing them for the right one? A job that is in demand and starts them on a career path with upward mobility? That’s the philosophy behind Goodwill of Western New York's Goodskills Career Builder, and it’s more than just a job training program. It’s a data-driven, research-backed career launching system created with input from the University at Buffalo's Regional Institute (UBRI), local employers, and lots of guidance from the Center for Regional Strategies in Buffalo, NY. 🔍 Here’s what makes it different: Goodskills is a rigorously evaluated model that blends sector-specific recruitment, career readiness training, hands-on work experience, introductory technical instruction, wraparound supports, and post-employment coaching... all designed to put people on a path to higher wages and generational wealth. Many graduates go on to employment, while others choose to pursue further education and training at rock star partner organizations like Per Scholas or Northland Workforce Training Center. 📈 This isn’t theory. It’s a living, breathing example of what’s possible when you apply the best of workforce development research to real-world needs. 🎓 And now, we’re going one step further: In partnership with UBRI, we’re releasing a series of research briefs that offer insight into Western New York’s workforce ecosystem and how to create more access to high-paying career pathways. 💡 Whether you're an employer, policymaker, funder, or community leader, these insights will help you understand what works, and what’s next, in workforce development. Check back often as we share reports, research studies, and proven strategies to drive impact. https://lnkd.in/g_iUuKZt Because this work is too important to get wrong. And too powerful to go unnoticed. #WorkforceDevelopment #FutureOfWork #GoodwillWNY #GoodskillsCareerBuilder #GenerationalWealth #SkillsTraining #ResearchDriven #TalentPipeline #UBRI #BuffaloBusiness #Leadership

Students in short-term workforce education programs will soon get some help covering tuition costs. The recently-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act expands Pell Grants to workforce programs as short as eight weeks or 150 clock hours in duration. Historically, federal funding for postsecondary education has skewed toward traditional degree programs. The new Workforce Pell Grants level the playing field, helping more students access high-quality workforce education and fill needed jobs. Workforce Pell Grants also contain a great policy innovation: Funds may only go to programs that deliver strong economic outcomes. To qualify for grants, a program must ensure that its graduates’ earnings three years after completion exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty line ($23,475 in 2025) plus the price of tuition. Programs that leave students earning low wages cannot qualify. A new report by Peter Riley Bahr and Rooney Columbus underscores the importance of the accountability system in Workforce Pell. Bahr and Columbus analyze nearly 130,000 students who enrolled in short-term, noncredit programs offered by community colleges in Texas. They observe students’ earnings before and after enrollment to discern whether the workforce education program produces a boost in wages. Overall, enrolling in a workforce program leads to a $2,160 annualized increase in earnings above trend, or about a four percent raise. But the results vary considerably depending on the type of workforce program. Just as the returns to a four-year college degree are contingent on your major, the returns to workforce education depend on your field of study. Read more about which workforce programs pay off in my latest post for the American Enterprise Institute: https://lnkd.in/eXXUAYEX