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It outlines recommended strategies to build a postsecondary ecosystem, expanding access, transparency, accountability, and career-focused pathways for students and employers.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & 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\nA series focused on nonpartisan reasoned solutions in the nation’s interest to the central challenges we face in order to provide prosperity for all Americans.  \nPostsecondary Pathways for the Workforce of Tomorrow  \nPostsecondary education in the US—all formal learning experiences beyond highschool, including two-and four-year degree programs and occupational and credential programs—is experiencing a momentous transformation in response to changing conditions and the demands of students, employers, and the economy. Yet public trust in higher education has reached a historic low, and for many in traditional degree programs, rising student debt undermines the return on investment many students expect from their college degree.1 New thinking and broader pathways are necessary to meet the demands of tomorrow’s workforce and society.  \nThis Solutions Brief explores the current state of higher education and factors that are leading to this shift away from the traditional model. It considers the modern purpose of postsecondary education and details emerging practices that forge expanded design of and access to career pathways for all. The Brief also outlines recommended strategies to foster a postsecondary ecosystem to meet the needs of the future economy.  \nTrusted Insights for What’s Ahead™  \nThe landscape of higher education is changing. The high cost of a college degree, in addition to many students’ dissatisfaction with the quality of education they receive and employers’ interest in hiring qualified employees, is driving an expansion of the postsecondary education ecosystem to provide more learning and training alternatives.  \n• College enrollment has declined significantly in recent years, partly attributable to a drop in the national birth rate and accelerated by COVID-19 disruptions. Atthe same time, researchers estimate that by 2031, 72% of jobs will require some form of postsecondary education or training, which may or may not include a traditional bachelor’s degree.2  \n• Only half of business leaders believe that recent college graduates are prepared for the workforce.3  \n• A growing number of employers are embracing nondegree and skills-based credentials. In June 2024, only about one-third of job openings required bachelor’s degrees, which calls into question the value and return on investment of a traditional college degree. In a 2024 international study, 81% of employers reported using a skills-based hiring approach for recruitment.4 Still, less than 1 in  \n700 jobs were actually filled by candidates without degrees.5  \n• In just one decade, between 2012-13 and 2022-23, the cost of a four-year degree increased by 25.6%(without factoring in inflation).6  \n• As of Q1 2024, collective student loan debt totaled $1.75 trillion, and researchers estimate that $100 billion will be disbursed for new loans to cover the 2024-25 academic year.7  \n• The price of tuition has outpaced the value of a Pell Grant, which now only covers 26% of the cost of college attendance, compared to 75% in 1975. As a result, more than 70% of Pell Grant recipients also have student loans.8  \n• College enrollment has declined by 9.8% since 2010, coinciding with the rise in tuition.9  \n• One study found that, prior to COVID-19 stimulus funding, 56% of schools were  \nfinancially unstable.10 Sixty-one colleges have closed or merged since March  \n2020, affecting more than 45,000 students.11  \n• While some traditional colleges and universities are facing decline and instability, nondegree credential programs are on the rise, led by businesses and alternative learning providers.  \nRecommendations  \nThe future economy, with increasing focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI)  \ntechnology, demands a postsecondary education system that delivers reliable learning  \nexperiences and outcomes for students and employers. Policymakers and key stake  \nholders must address affordability, accessibility, and relevanc","cbCaijE0aL4gNyTM","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijE0aL4gNyTM","pdf",634095,21,"English","# Postsecondary Pathways for the Workforce of Tomorrow\n## Overview and Transformation Drivers\n## Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead\n## Recommendations\n## Purpose Revisited","[{\"question\":\"What is the main focus of this Solutions Brief?\",\"answer\":\"It examines the current state of higher education and explains factors driving the shift away from the traditional degree model, then recommends strategies to foster a postsecondary ecosystem.\"},{\"question\":\"What challenges are driving change in US higher education?\",\"answer\":\"High costs, declining public trust and college enrollment, dissatisfaction with education quality, and rising student debt reduce the return on investment and motivate alternatives.\"},{\"question\":\"What recommendations are proposed to improve postsecondary outcomes?\",\"answer\":\"The brief recommends preserving the value of postsecondary learning through affordability and reliable mobility, evolving options with student and workforce needs, and starting career preparation early through earlier and more equitable pathways.\"}]","Postsecondary Pathways for the Workforce of Tomorrow - Solutions Brief | PDF",1792049174,53]