Designing and Delivering Career Pathways at Community Colleges

In today’s labor market, students increasingly need greater levels of postsecondary education and training to enter or advance in many industries. Meanwhile, employers are calling for the education system to better align with industry needs, as their demands for a skilled workforce continue to rise. Specifically, employers are seeking higher-skilled workers who can be flexible, learn new skills on the job, and generalize their skills to work across different job categories.

In response to the increasing emphasis for postsecondary institutions to prepare students for family-sustaining employment in high-growth, in demand industries, community colleges are employing a number of strategies to meet the needs of both job seekers and employers. Many of these strategies are found within career and technical education (CTE) programs, and they are also present in broader workforce development activities and supports offered by community colleges.