From Skills to Jobs: Building Clearer Pathways to Good Work

The path from school to steady work with good wages is not always well-marked or accessible. Today’s students and workers can choose among many options—including bachelor’s and associate degrees, apprenticeships, military service, and other forms of work-based learning—but the systems designed to develop and measure skills are not well aligned with the needs of learners, jobseekers, and employers.

Too often, students struggle to find real-world work experiences that are connected to their studies or interests. At the same time, workers who want to continue learning and gain new skills face limited and unclear points of entry back into education and training systems. These disconnects also hamper the ability of employers to find workers with the right skills.

On February 26, Brookings will host an event to examine how education systems and labor market institutions can evolve to better support students and workers at every stage. Panelists will explore what it would take to ensure high school is relevant, postsecondary education is affordable and accessible, work-based learning options are plentiful, and pathways to good jobs are clear.