Resource Library
The Pathways Resource Library is a central hub of research and tools designed to drive innovation in education-to-workforce pathways. It contains a wide selection of resources organized by topic, audience, region, and type, allowing you to easily locate materials that fit your needs.
Research Report
MAKING THE CASE FOR SKILLS-FIRST HIRING WITH HIRING PROFESSIONALS
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
In 2023, SHRM Foundation commissioned Topos Foundation to investigate the effectiveness of various framing, language, and argumentation deployed in an ongoing effort, by SHRM Foundation and many other partners, to promote hiring that puts less emphasis on academic degrees and considers all the ways job candidates may be qualified for a position. This report contains valuable insights into effectively communicating the case for skills-first hiring with the broadest audience.
Playbook or Guidebook
Skills-Based Sourcing and Hiring Playbook
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
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.
Toolkit
From Insights to Action: Communicating Career Pathways With Confidence
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This communications toolkit is designed to help organizations and advocates effectively engage learners and employers regarding the value of career education and training programs as well as skill-based hiring. It offers research-backed messaging that reflects what people care about most—and what motivates them to take action. These messages don’t just describe the benefits of pathways programs, they also help audiences see these options as relevant, accessible, and worth pursuing. The guidance in this manual is grounded in science-based communication practices and shaped by extensive research, including a landscape analysis of messaging in the field and media, a nationally representative survey with message testing, roundtable discussions with learners and employers, and a series of pulse surveys.
This toolkit offers adaptable, ready-to-use messages, language, and themes to support outreach, engagement, and storytelling. Use them to strengthen your communications—whether you're writing a social post, developing a presentation, or talking with partners and stakeholders. The messages are designed to be flexible; feel free to use them as written or tailor them to fit your audience and voice.
Toolkit
Skills-Based Hiring Toolkit
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource includes a set of skills-based hiring toolkits that include a skills-based job-posting, interview questions, and onboarding plans. Each Skills-Based Hiring Toolkit is packed with valuable resources that will help you transform your hiring strategy.
Research Report
High School Awareness Research
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This is a report containing the results of a study on new approaches in higher education, funded by the Charles Kock Foundation.
Research Report
Preparing our Students for the Real World
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This is a thought paper for school and community leaders. It takes an honest look at the reality of what was facing America students and its workforce in 2019 and what brought America to this reality. It also provides clarity and direction to bring greater effectiveness and scalability to Career Connected Learning practices.
Article, Research Report
Failing on Purpose
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This survey explores the perspectives and experiences of those in closest contact with the American education system—namely parents, current students, and recent graduates. In partnership with YouGov, American Compass surveyed representative American parents young adults about their views on the purpose of public education; their reflections on the way that the school system has performed; and their desire for reforms to both K–12 schools and higher education. They found that Americans want (1) a public education system less focused on college, more focused on preparing people to build decent lives in their communities, and (2) education reforms to emphasize non-college pathways.
White Paper
Degrees of Risk: What Gen Z and Employers Think About Education-to-Career Pathways… and How Those Views are Changing
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
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.
Research Report
Lumina State of Higher Education
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Gallup and Lumina Foundation conducted a report studying the most pressing issues facing higher education. Insights cover U.S. adults' interest in pursuing higher education, what's keeping them from enrolling and what's causing currently enrolled students to consider stopping out.
Filters
Research Report
MAKING THE CASE FOR SKILLS-FIRST HIRING WITH HIRING PROFESSIONALS
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
In 2023, SHRM Foundation commissioned Topos Foundation to investigate the effectiveness of various framing, language, and argumentation deployed in an ongoing effort, by SHRM Foundation and many other partners, to promote hiring that puts less emphasis on academic degrees and considers all the ways job candidates may be qualified for a position. This report contains valuable insights into effectively communicating the case for skills-first hiring with the broadest audience.
Playbook or Guidebook
Skills-Based Sourcing and Hiring Playbook
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
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.
Toolkit
From Insights to Action: Communicating Career Pathways With Confidence
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This communications toolkit is designed to help organizations and advocates effectively engage learners and employers regarding the value of career education and training programs as well as skill-based hiring. It offers research-backed messaging that reflects what people care about most—and what motivates them to take action. These messages don’t just describe the benefits of pathways programs, they also help audiences see these options as relevant, accessible, and worth pursuing. The guidance in this manual is grounded in science-based communication practices and shaped by extensive research, including a landscape analysis of messaging in the field and media, a nationally representative survey with message testing, roundtable discussions with learners and employers, and a series of pulse surveys.
This toolkit offers adaptable, ready-to-use messages, language, and themes to support outreach, engagement, and storytelling. Use them to strengthen your communications—whether you're writing a social post, developing a presentation, or talking with partners and stakeholders. The messages are designed to be flexible; feel free to use them as written or tailor them to fit your audience and voice.
Toolkit
Skills-Based Hiring Toolkit
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource includes a set of skills-based hiring toolkits that include a skills-based job-posting, interview questions, and onboarding plans. Each Skills-Based Hiring Toolkit is packed with valuable resources that will help you transform your hiring strategy.
Research Report
High School Awareness Research
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This is a report containing the results of a study on new approaches in higher education, funded by the Charles Kock Foundation.
Research Report
Preparing our Students for the Real World
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This is a thought paper for school and community leaders. It takes an honest look at the reality of what was facing America students and its workforce in 2019 and what brought America to this reality. It also provides clarity and direction to bring greater effectiveness and scalability to Career Connected Learning practices.
Article, Research Report
Failing on Purpose
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This survey explores the perspectives and experiences of those in closest contact with the American education system—namely parents, current students, and recent graduates. In partnership with YouGov, American Compass surveyed representative American parents young adults about their views on the purpose of public education; their reflections on the way that the school system has performed; and their desire for reforms to both K–12 schools and higher education. They found that Americans want (1) a public education system less focused on college, more focused on preparing people to build decent lives in their communities, and (2) education reforms to emphasize non-college pathways.
White Paper
Degrees of Risk: What Gen Z and Employers Think About Education-to-Career Pathways… and How Those Views are Changing
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
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.
Research Report
Lumina State of Higher Education
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Gallup and Lumina Foundation conducted a report studying the most pressing issues facing higher education. Insights cover U.S. adults' interest in pursuing higher education, what's keeping them from enrolling and what's causing currently enrolled students to consider stopping out.