Technology, globalization, and demographic changes have altered what employers need from workers and what workers can expect from employers.
Many Americans no longer follow a straightforward, linear path from education to the workforce to retirement. It is becoming more common for individuals to work while going to school, return to school to get more education, change careers after spending some time in the workforce, or work multiple freelance jobs. Many experienced workers find that their current skills are no longer in need, but there are no clearly defined pathways for them to quickly adapt and acquire new skills.
RAND Education and Labor researchers work with education and training institutions, employers, and policymakers to take a systems-levels approach to examining education, workforce development, and employment, and to develop evidence-based policy recommendations to better support workers and employers in the 21st-century and beyond. We examine how best to expose students to career and technical education that will prepare them for the world of work. We consider alternative funding models that can more equitably distribute costs of continuing education and training among individuals, employers, and taxpayers. And we examine how to better align education and training curricula with labor market needs. Our work has examined new mechanisms to support greater job and career mobility, as well as the needs of freelancers in the “gig” economy.
