National Skills Coalition

During Hispanic Heritage Month, NSC and UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) celebrate the resilience of Latinx workers. Together, we're championing policies that provide access to skills training and job security. Explore our latest findings: https://lnkd.in/esd-XyM6

Thank You Marc Goldberg !!! It was a pleasure seeing you at the conference this year and watching you moderate a dynamic panel of students! The work you do everyday is motivates me to be a better advocate.

A majority of Black voters want policies that broaden access to high-quality #digitalskills training, whether it's to get a promotion at work or to unlock new opportunities. At Comcast, our #ProjectUP initiative is dedicated to empowering workers with the tools they need to reach their economic goals. Check out the National Skills Coalition’s latest findings to learn more.

🎓 How Digital Literacy Transformed My Life 🚀 As an adult learner, I faced challenges in today’s digital-first world. Everything seemed to require technology—whether it was finding a job, connecting with people, or simply managing day-to-day tasks. I realized that if I wanted to improve my career prospects and quality of life, I needed to embrace digital literacy. Here’s what happened after I made the decision to return to school and build my skills through Adult Education as well as a workforce training program: 1) Better Job Opportunities 💼 I used to struggle with job applications and online platforms. But after learning how to use tools like LinkedIn, Excel, and even Zoom, I’ve been able to apply for jobs I would’ve never considered before. Now, I’m working in a role that challenges me, pays better, and provides opportunities for growth. 2) Confidence and Independence 💪 From managing my finances online to staying updated with news and trends, I feel more in control of my life. I’m no longer intimidated by technology, and that independence has boosted my self-esteem in ways I never expected. 3) Continuous Learning 📚 Digital literacy opened the door to online learning. I’ve completed certifications, learned new skills, and stayed competitive in my field. The best part? I can keep learning at my own pace, from the comfort of my home. To anyone out there who feels like the digital world is passing them by—trust me, it’s never too late. Digital education isn’t just about technology; it’s about unlocking new opportunities and taking control of your future.🌟 WorkReady U Coalition on Adult Basic Education National Skills Coalition LCTCS Louisiana Workforce Commission #DIW2024 #AdultEducation #LifelongLearning #WorkReadyU #EducationForAll #StrongerCommunities #DigitalLiteracy #DigitalEmpowerment #NeverTooLate

This week, I had the privilege of keynoting two convenings in Ohio—hosted by the AARP Foundation in partnership with UnitedHealthcare—that focused on strengthening the direct care workforce. My remarks kicked off a series of discussions to develop a plan of action that will truly uplift these essential workers. Direct care workers in #Ohio and across the country together support millions of older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. Despite their essential role, care workers often face low wages, inadequate training, and limited career pathways. At National Skills Coalition, we’re committed to changing that so workers can thrive and communities receive the care they deserve. I'm grateful for the remarkable leaders who came together over two days to imagine actionable solutions—one idea to the next, “neighbor to neighbor,” as several attendees from the Appalachian region noted. It’s time to elevate these roles and ensure they lead to #goodjobs, meaningful careers, and the respect they’ve long deserved. Thank you: Mindy Feldbaum, Matthew Fortier, Phoebe Chastain, MPH, Adrienne Rathert Mundorf, Jolene Tanner, Jackie Lewis, Elizabeth Beverly

We’re celebrating #DigitalInclusionWeek! Our recent Master Class on digital equity left us inspired by the real progress being made to close the digital divide—but we know there’s still plenty of work ahead. If you’re looking for key resources and federal partnerships that are making a real difference, watch the full Master Class. Join us in taking bold steps to ensure everyone has a place in the digital economy! https://lnkd.in/ee4u3fvb National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) National Skills Coalition

That's a wrap! Election years are an important time to highlight what people are talking about at their kitchen tables. As we wrap up National Skills Coalition’s Public Perspective series, a few reflections on what I've seen change and what I've seen hold steady in NSC's public opinion research over the last several national election cycles: 🗳️Voters see value in skills training. It's tangible. They see the impact it's had on people they know. They see it as essential to jobs that power communities and the economy. This hasn't changed. 🗳️Skills training is a profoundly bipartisan issue, and voters see it as a place where policymakers could be working across the aisle. This also hasn't changed. 🗳️Over election cycles, the percentage of voters who wish elected officials prioritized public investment in skills training (as well as a range of specific policy solutions) has remained high, but the likelihood of it impacting their vote has increased. 🗳️The biggest change I see is that voters see a direct connection between access to high quality skills training and the biggest issues facing the country: the digital divide, the emergence of AI, climate change, caregiving, national security, job quality and equity. A lot of things have contributed to this shift, but I think one is the work people in this field have done to make visible the multiple pathways people take to acquire skills and the value of those skills. As with every election cycle, we've taken this research on the road sharing it with candidates of all parties at the state and national level, in state houses, the halls of Congress, caucuses and conventions. The reception gives me great hope. And this is thanks to our incredible network of advocates as well as national partners who've joined us on the Public Perspective series including UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) and Opportunity@Work. Check out the full series on our website. And let's keep working together to make sure the American people’s perspectives are heard. And a special thanks to the NSC coms team for their work on this series: Carlos D., Nicky Lauricella Coolberth, Brittany Powell, Tianna Montgomery. https://lnkd.in/gqNVvmus

Given the rising demand for talent across the US—a broad concern but notably higher in industries such as health care, logistics, and information technology—we need an approach that better matches the supply of talent with this increasing demand. Enter non-degree programs, which have long provided opportunities for learner-workers to enter or move up in the labor market with essential skills and a foundation for future advancement. But questions about the quality of some of these programs have dogged their wide acceptance over many years. We have no common assurance that these offerings are sufficiently aligned with industry needs, whether they lead to well-paying jobs, and whether they produce the skills and knowledge they advertise. Faced with a breathtaking array of choices, students - and employers - are too often flying in the dark. We already know what can result. The education landscape is littered with certificates and other credentials that have left students in heavy debt with little to show for their investment. Some wind up in low-wage jobs that they could have secured without a credential. And far too often, these programs have diverted first-generation learners and students of color from four-year colleges where they might have been better served. The good news is that solutions are being developed to address these shortcomings. For example, the National Skills Coalition - an organization that helps states advance policy in workforce development – has done terrific work on defining quality credentials and giving employers a common benchmark for quality. And Credential Engine, a nonprofit organization working to make sense of the confusing credential landscape, pulls thousands of these programs into a searchable registry that uses common metrics about program content, outcomes, and costs. These and other strategies help support each of the actors in the nation’s complex workforce system. States know that everyone benefits from having clear quality standards for credential programs, expressed in a common language. Students who face a dizzying array of programs can match those offerings to their goals and life circumstances. And policymakers have a valuable guide as they set education and workforce goals and create budgets to meet them. There is no ‘one size fits all’ model for delivering value in postsecondary non-degree programs. But it is clear that many actors must play a role in making this happen, including employers, states, accreditors, and others. Much more needs to be done, but we know this much: None of these groups can take sole responsibility for improving a system that plays such an important role in meeting the nation’s pressing workforce demands. You can read more about the important work to sharpen these essential workforce tools in my latest Forbes piece here:

💪Take X by storm! Tweet your legislator and tell them that it's time to #BridgeTheDivide this Digital Inclusion Week! It just takes 3 clicks! https://lnkd.in/eUf8_NZx 👀 Check out our social media toolkit for wording, trending hashtags and eye-catching graphics!👀 https://lnkd.in/eXhtR_7Y #DIW2024 #AdultEducation #ElevateDigitalEquity Sharon Bonney

On my way to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the NCWE Annual Conference: Future Proofing Workforce Education. I’m excited to be presenting with my amazing National Skills Coalition colleague Kate Michaels and our wonderful advisory council members Rachel Wilkerson and Alisha Small. We will be discussing opportunities for strengthening postsecondary systems to support the whole student and offer strategies for integrating student voice in policy work. If you’re around come by and check us out! #NCWE2024