Pathways Resource Library

While headlines trumpet the demise of the college degree, this joint report with Harvard Business School Project on Managing the Future of Work reveals a different reality. Many companies have announced dropping degree requirements, but sustained hiring changes remain elusive for most. This report identifies where the reality of skills-based hiring might be lagging well-meaning ambitions, and shows which companies are getting it right.

This playbook is a step-by-step guide to implementing more equitable and effective approaches to employee recruiting, hiring, and advancement by embracing skills-first talent management practices.

Pathways Matter to Families offers insights and actionable resources for students and families. The two complementary resources linked are informed by original research investigating what parents and young adults think and want to know about education-to-workforce pathways and experiences.

This resource provides tangible data points on employer attitudes toward Career Technical Education (CTE) and the positive return on investment CTE experiences provide for business and economic growth. Based on a national survey of more than 300 professionals actively involved in hiring decisions in in-demand fields, these new findings demonstrate that employers strongly support and see direct value in CTE. The findings also indicate that employer recognition and support for skills-focused hiring is growing and that employers back a greater public investment in CTE programs.

Calls for narrative change abound in social change work. But what kinds of patterns qualify as narratives, and how narratives are embedded within particular stories, remains hazy. This report introduces a model of narrative, defining the elements and identifying the patterns in stories that comprise the narrative form. Our model identifies a set of features that make up a narrative, offering a practical tool for those working to change narratives within and beyond the issue of poverty.

The purpose of the report is to explore and highlight the unique challenges and perceptions of Generation Z as they enter the workforce amid various global crises. It presents data from McKinsey's American Opportunity Survey, revealing Gen Z's higher likelihood of working multiple jobs, financial insecurity, mental health struggles, and pessimism about economic milestones like homeownership and retirement. The report aims to inform employers and other stakeholders about these generational differences to better support Gen Z in the workplace and address their specific needs and concerns.

This is an examination of what is required to make a person employable, as well as what professional and educational success looks like. This study was commissioned by American Student Assistance (ASA) and Jobs for the Future (JFF). The research aimed to understand current familiarity with and perceptions of non-degree postsecondary pathways from both Gen Z and employer perspectives. This paper also makes recommendations for the way forward to expand high-quality postsecondary options for all learners.

A unified directory of organizations and employers offering work-based learning opportunities—such as internships, job shadows, and apprenticeships— to help decision-makers find, compare, and connect with providers.

Infographics demonstrating degree inflation, which caused labor shortage and opportunity gap. This can be used to talk with employers and government about the importance of skill-based hiring.