Many young Americans are entering a job market that offers few guarantees. Today’s graduates and parents alike worry about artificial intelligence’s effect on early career opportunities. For high school students, taking on debt for a four‑year degree without a clear path to employment feels increasingly risky. Karen Gardiner, a senior fellow in the Urban Institute’s Work, Education, and Justice division, notes that young people want jobs with livable wages and benefits, yet the options they see are often limited to a traditional college route.
Paths beyond the bachelor’s degree:
Alternative pathways to good jobs exist, but a significant gap remains in awareness. Gardiner points out that many students and parents either do not know about these options or view them as second tier. Work‑based learning opportunities increasingly connect students to careers with strong earnings potential, yet this information is not reaching the people who need it most. States and the federal government have invested heavily in these areas over the past decade.
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Registered apprenticeship is a premier “earn and learn” model. Apprentices begin earning wages immediately and see their pay increase as they master competencies. The model combines on‑the‑job learning with classroom instruction, often provided by community or technical colleges. Historically, apprenticeships in the U.S. have trained workers in the building trades. However, state and federal initiatives have sought to expand apprenticeships to nontraditional occupations, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare and information technology. Today the United States hosts more than 714,000 apprentices, an 80.5% increase from 2016.
Apprenticeship does not stop someone from pursuing a college degree. In fact, apprenticeships with a degree‑seeking component are gaining traction. Harper College, outside Chicago, offers apprenticeship programs in a range of industries, such as insurance, graphic design and finance, that culminate in an associate degree. Students can then transfer to a four‑year degree program if they wish. Sector‑based training programs also offer an alternative route to a traditional four‑year degree. These programs work with employers to ensure they meet labor‑market needs. By focusing on quality jobs in targeted high‑demand industries, they enable students to earn a valuable credential and college credit simultaneously.
Consider Connecticut State Community College, which offers this type of program for advanced manufacturing. With more than 4,600 manufacturing establishments in the state, according to economic‑development nonprofit AdvanceCT, several large aerospace and military contractors operate nearby. CT State’s one‑to‑two‑year advanced manufacturing programs introduce students to an in‑demand career path they may not otherwise consider. High school students and their parents are brought on tours led by a program director to dispel myths about manufacturing jobs. They won’t see oil and grease.
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Value of hands‑on experience
Four‑year degrees are expensive, and students who enroll may feel the cost for years. She notes that most people, including college graduates, do not learn how to do a job by sitting in the classroom. They learn on the job, under supervisors, mentors and peers. Alternative pathways prioritize this hands‑on learning.
Evaluations of registered apprenticeship programs conducted by Gardiner and her colleagues show promising employment and earnings gains.
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Families and graduating high school students need this evidence. Too many students hear about only one “respectable” path after high school. Too many parents still view apprenticeships, nondegree credentials and community college programs as backup plans rather than real opportunities. Students do not have to choose between work and higher education. By building evidence about the effectiveness of workforce training programs and ensuring families have that information, education and workforce leaders can reinforce that a four‑year degree isn’t the only path to a good job.
Students seek the best chance at a good job, manageable costs, and room to keep learning.
