The head of a nonprofit focused on credential transparency shares how new work with state policy groups aims to help make sense of the vast credential marketplace.
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a heavy toll on America’s workforce, with 43 states clocking record unemployment rates in April. As the crisis plunges the nation into a recession, some experts warn it will also accelerate automation and require a massive reskilling of workers.
But navigating the credential marketplace and assessing programs’ quality can be a tall order for prospective students, particularly those looking for something short of a two- or four-year degree. There are more than 730,000 credentials on offer in the U.S., including traditional degrees and alternative credentials, such as certificates and badges.
Although colleges that get federal funds are required to publish their student outcomes, many alternative education providers that offer nondegree options are not. New attempts to spur recovery from the coronavirus crisis stand to raise interest in the full range of programs, highlighting the need for states to better understand the scope and quality of the credentials that colleges and workforce training programs offer in their state.