The U.S. Workforce Development and Employment System Needs an Overhaul
Sep 19, 2019
Reimagining the Workforce Development System for the 21st Century and Beyond
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—rather, it is becoming more common for individuals to work while going to school, return to school to get more education or change careers after spending some time in the workforce, or work multiple freelance jobs. RAND Education and Labor researchers are working 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.
Featured Research
Equitable Access to Opportunities for Learning, Training, and Re-Training Throughout Individuals’ Working Lives
RAND Education and Labor researchers are examining how best to provide students with a broad base of fundamental skills, as well as exposure to career and technical education that will prepare them for the world of work. In addition, we are considering alternative funding models that can more equitably distribute costs of continuing education and training among individuals, employers, and taxpayers.
Matching and Re-matching Individuals with Jobs to Which They and Their Skills are Well-suited
Recent graduates often find it difficult to make the transition from school to the workforce, as employers often want to hire workers with previous experience. RAND Education and Labor researchers are working in partnership with employers, education and training providers, and other stakeholders to better-align education and training curricula with labor market needs, and to facilitate the school-to-workforce transition. At the same time, 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. Our work has examined new mechanisms to support greater job and career mobility, as well as the needs of freelancers in the growing “gig” economy.
Workers in the Pandemic
RAND Education and Labor researchers offer insights on the challenges facing U.S. workers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore the latest RAND commentary on labor markets, workers, and employers during the pandemic.
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Recent Publications
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Benchmarking Workforce Diversity in the Travel/Hospitality Industry in California April 13, 2021
Examines diversity within the travel/hospitality industry in California.
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Beyond Traditional Academic Degrees: The Labor Market Returns to Occupational Credentials in the United States April 13, 2021
Estimates the effect of occupational credentials on labor market outcomes.
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Public Employee Retention Responses to Alternative Retirement Plan Design: South Carolina Teachers and State Public Employees March 22, 2021
Models retention of public sector workers in South Carolina under current policy and designs a tool that can be applied to plan design proposals being considered by policymakers.
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A Snapshot of Educator Mobility in Montana: Understanding Issues of Educator Shortages and Turnover February 17, 2021
Montana is struggling to recruit and retain qualified educators, especially in certain subject areas and in rural parts of the state. This study provides information that will help the task force address these challenges.
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Reimagining the Workforce Development and Employment System: How a More Connected System Can Support Students, Workers, and Firms January 26, 2021
Testimony presented before the Florida House of Representatives Education & Employment Committee on January 26, 2021.
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How Is COVID-19 Changing Americans' Online Shopping Habits? Five Months into the Pandemic November 10, 2020
Americans' online shopping habits have continued to shift during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. More Americans are shopping online, and people who report shopping online more frequently also report spending more money on online purchases. People who reported spending less on online purchases were likely to have lost employment during the pandemic.