Local Labor Market Alignment of Short-Term Certificate Programs. EdWorkingPaper No. 24-930
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| Title: | Local Labor Market Alignment of Short-Term Certificate Programs. EdWorkingPaper No. 24-930 |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Sophie McGuinness, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University |
| Source: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2024. |
| Availability: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 34 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | ECMC Foundation |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Two Year Colleges Adult Education |
| Descriptors: | Community College Students, Community Colleges, Alignment (Education), Labor Market, Credentials, Employment Opportunities, Student Certification, Employment Patterns, Adult Students, Labor Force, Acceleration (Education), Education Work Relationship |
| Abstract: | Short-term certificate (STC) programs at community colleges represent a longstanding policy priority to align accelerated postsecondary credentials with job opportunities in local labor markets. Despite large investments in developing STCs, little evidence exists about where and when STCs are opened and whether community colleges open new programs of study in coordination with labor market trends. Using public workforce and postsecondary data, I examine health and manufacturing STC program openings to understand alignment with labor market activity in related industries. I find that STCs are spatially aligned across labor markets within a state, but not necessarily temporally aligned with county-specific trends. One additional STC per college is associated with labor markets that had 2-3 percentage points more total employment and new hires in related industries. Large launches of clustered STC programs occurred before periods of growth in health employment but declines in manufacturing. Large launches preceded earnings growth of 2-5 percentage points in both sectors. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | ED672502 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Short-term certificate (STC) programs at community colleges represent a longstanding policy priority to align accelerated postsecondary credentials with job opportunities in local labor markets. Despite large investments in developing STCs, little evidence exists about where and when STCs are opened and whether community colleges open new programs of study in coordination with labor market trends. Using public workforce and postsecondary data, I examine health and manufacturing STC program openings to understand alignment with labor market activity in related industries. I find that STCs are spatially aligned across labor markets within a state, but not necessarily temporally aligned with county-specific trends. One additional STC per college is associated with labor markets that had 2-3 percentage points more total employment and new hires in related industries. Large launches of clustered STC programs occurred before periods of growth in health employment but declines in manufacturing. Large launches preceded earnings growth of 2-5 percentage points in both sectors. |
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