Credentials Can Help with College Costs
October 5, 2018Business Groups Urge Legislators to Resist Writing a Blank Check for Education
December 13, 2018New research by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Three Educational Pathways to Good Jobs, finds that two out of three jobs nationally demand at least some education or training beyond high school – in Massachusetts, the number approaches 3 out of 4!
In addition, the study found all growth of new “good jobs” has been in middle skills positions, which require more than a high school diploma but less than a college degree. The research defines a good job as one that pays at least $35,000 and an average of $56,000 for workers with less than a bachelor’s degree and an average of $65,000 for workers with a bachelors or higher. There are more than 16 million good jobs for workers with middle-skills preparation.
The growth in good middle skills jobs, demonstrates the urgent need to ensure all students attain at least a career certificate or industry-recognized credential. That is why, MBAE is launching Credentials for Success, an initiative to expand opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized credentials in high school. Our proposal prioritizes credentials that lead to jobs in the state’s high wage, high-demand industries such as healthcare, IT and advanced manufacturing.
Skills embedded in certification courses can transfer to multiple career pathways, giving students the essential tools they need to access good middle skills jobs now and adapt to our rapidly changing economy in the future.
Learn more about MBAE’s Credentials for Success initiative here.