Regional Workforce Analysis that Aligns Education Systems with Economic Demand
WestEd’s Center for Economic Mobility conducted a regional education and workforce analysis on talent and pathways to equip state and local leaders to align postsecondary systems with regional economic demand.
Thrive Quad Cities is an education and workforce analysis conducted by WestEd for the Illinois Board of Higher Education that examines this bi-state region’s labor market demand, education pathways, and equity gaps to inform coordinated, cross-sector strategies that align K12 and postsecondary programs with high-demand careers.
The Challenge
State and regional leaders needed a clear, data-informed picture of regional conditions to guide strategic investments and policy decisions.
- A shared understanding of regional labor market demand and economic trends
- Clear identification of priority sectors and occupations
- Insight into equity gaps across race, gender, and ethnicity
- Actionable recommendations to improve pathway alignment and coordination
How We’re Taking Action
WestEd conducted a comprehensive, mixed-methods education and workforce analysis designed to be both rigorous and usable by state and regional leaders. The work combined three core components: key interest holder engagement, quantitative data analysis, and applied synthesis.
First, WestEd engaged workforce, education, and community interest holders across the Quad Cities to surface regional priorities and system-level challenges. This outreach ensured that findings reflected on-the-ground realities alongside quantitative data.
Second, the team analyzed labor market and economic data to identify high-demand industries, occupational clusters, and specialized skill needs shaping the regional economy. These findings were paired with education and demographic data to examine participation, completion, and equity gaps across postsecondary pathways aligned to those occupations.
Finally, WestEd synthesized findings into a set of actionable insights and recommendations designed to support implementation. Recommendations focused on strengthening career awareness, expanding work-based learning and apprenticeships, improving cross-segment coordination, and supporting wraparound services that help learners and workers persist.
Impact highlights include:
- A replicable regional analysis model to inform state strategic planning
- Clear, data-driven priorities for program expansion and investment
- Actionable strategies to improve equity and alignment across education and workforce systems