News
No Degree Needed?
By Sterling Smith
In this blog, we cut through social media hype to share what the data actually show about six-figure earners without a college degree in Los Angeles County—and five realities that shape who reaches $100K with only a high school diploma.
Why Job Quality is the Hidden Driver of Workforce Mobility
By John Brauer
In this blog, we explore how job quality is a powerful—and often overlooked—driver of economic mobility, and we offer a practical framework for workforce systems and employers to strengthen wages, benefits, scheduling, worker voice, and advancement so jobs become true stepping stones instead of dead ends.
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Real Jobs, Real Skills, Real Lives: Redesigning Postsecondary Pathways for Working Adults
By Alex Lozanoff
What does it really take for postsecondary education to pay off for working adults today?
From Seat Time to Mastery: The Case for Competency-Based Education
By Erik Cooper
Competency-based education (CBE) could revolutionize how we approach student learning—focusing on mastery rather than seat time. In this blog, you’ll learn what’s at stake, what’s holding us back, and why the time is right to make the shift.
The Only Way Up is Out
By Sterling Smith
Plentiful low-wage jobs provide employment opportunities for millions of Americans both young and old. But if we look beneath the surface, we find a system providing little opportunity for economic mobility—a system rife with structural barriers preventing even motivated people from moving up. In this blog post, we diagnose the problem while we examine how and why education and training systems must focus their efforts on supporting workers who are earning low wages.
Reflections on 2025: Looking Back to Look Forward
By Kathy Booth and Randy Tillery
In this blog, the Center for Economic Mobility shares practical strategies for addressing current educational priorities including employer engagement, understanding the job market, and bridging noncredit and credit programs.
In Their Own Words: Capturing Student Voice to Build Guidance for Life After High School
By Rachel Antrobus and David Maduli
What do high school seniors really need as they prepare for life after graduation? We asked them—and what they shared might change how we think about postsecondary guidance. In this blog, you will discover how listening to high school seniors can focus postsecondary support on the topics and approaches that are most effective for students.
Expanding Opportunity for Adult Learners: How California Colleges Are Driving Impact Through the UDW Project
By Jasmine McGee and John Brauer
In this blog, we look at how colleges across California, in partnership with the United Domestic Workers and the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, are collaborating to build clear, equitable pathways for adult learners across the state, demonstrating that meaningful impact is possible through shared vision, strategic partnerships, and data-informed design.