America has built a crowded opportunity system. But it hasn’t yet managed to build a clear opportunity map that guides people through that system.
The U.S. now has more than 1.85 million credentials, from high school diplomas and college degrees, to short-term credentials, industry certifications, badges and other certificates, according to Credential Engine.
They’re offered by more than 134,000 providers, with $2.34 trillion invested annually in education and workforce development. They vary in quality, market value and connection to further education or work.
But more options don’t automatically create clearer choices. For example, a student may not know which certificate leads to a family-sustaining job. A displaced worker may not know whether a short-term program connects to an apprenticeship, a promotion or a degree. An employer may say it needs skills but not know how to translate that need into a program, credential or hiring pathway.
So America has no shortage of career pathways. But it does have a navigation problem. And community colleges can play a practical role in solving it.
