This paper outlines potential actions and roles for intermediaries to facilitate the development and implementation of truly equitable education-to-career pathways systems. Specifically, it could guide the broader field of intermediary organizations and efforts to engage in policy and advocacy by outlining how intermediaries can influence the…

To help all students and jobseekers better navigate the rapidly changing job market and make informed choices about their educational and career paths, the United States must make systemic reforms and strategic investments in career services and navigational supports. Drawing on the insights of leading practitioners from education and workforce…

In this policy road map, Jobs for the Future (JFF) offers common-sense, field-tested policy solutions that state and federal lawmakers can enact today to begin reengineering education and workforce systems toward the vision and core principles of No Dead Ends. These policy recommendations are organized under four key priority areas: (1) Empower…

Extended reality (XR) technology and immersive learning are reshaping the future of learning and work. In this paper, Jobs for the Future (JFF) presents a new framework of occupations and career paths created or transformed by XR technology and immersive learning, including illustrative job titles, critical skills, and anticipated training/hiring…

Jobs for the Future (JFF) and BigFuture want all students to have the sense of agency and purpose that comes with feeling hopeful, motivated, excited, confident. An essential step in achieving this is to ensure that high school students and their families receive a timely and abundant flow of information, resources, and advising in order to…

This case study outlines how the Montgomery County Education Service Center (MCESC), in partnership with JFF's Pathways to Prosperity Network team, has worked to address the mismatch between education and labor market from 2018-2022. It outlines the importance of leadership through the regional Business Advisory Council, highlights the process of…

Today's young adults want and need a diverse array of education options, including, but not limited to, two- and four-year degrees to help them connect learning with earning. Young people and employers alike are eager for effective, efficient, work-aligned pathways to employment that enable people not just to say, "I know a lot, and here's…

With this paper, we deepen and expand upon our body of research into the public awareness and reputation of nondegree pathways, focusing on the beliefs and attitudes of young people, their parents, and their teachers. For those looking to pursue, or encourage someone to pursue, a nondegree pathway today, there are no easy answers. Information…

The Fresno K-16 Collaborative is a signature initiative of the California Governor's Council on Post-Secondary Education that aims to increase college degree attainment in high-demand industries, align educational preparation with the demands of regional employers, and close race and equity gaps by developing an integrated system and seamless set…

Jobs for the Future (JFF) is developing this state policy framework to outline the steps states can take toward fully adopting each of the Big Blur's four key components and creating a more effective system for grades 11-14. The Big Blur argues for the need to erase the arbitrary boundaries between high school, college, and careers and create one…

Career pathways aligned with regional labor markets are foundational structures put in place to ensure that youth are best positioned for economic advancement. While it is not difficult to describe an aligned pathway (also called a program of study) at a high level, actually designing a pathway with all of the required details is challenging. The…

The current U.S. secondary education, postsecondary education, and workforce training systems are failing to serve the needs of many of today's students. Securing a good job with a family-sustaining wage increasingly requires workers to possess industry certifications, degrees, and credentials, but U.S. education systems are not set up to help…

College enrollment is on the decline, Gen Z is questioning the cost and value of higher education, and employers face an ongoing struggle to fill jobs with talented candidates. The traditional message that college is the only path to a fulfilling career is outdated. It's time to examine what it really means to be employable--and reimagine the…