Navigating the skill‐first economy: The evolving role of lifelong learning and career services at community colleges

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AbstractThe rapid pace of technological change is revolutionizing every sector of the economy, transforming how value is created and delivered to consumers through technologies like robotics, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things. This transformation underscores the need for a diverse workforce as the new skills valued and essential to employers are changing. In this context, community colleges are thrust into the national debate around the best options for educating skilled employees, given their historical role in preparing a significant portion of the national workforce and employers’ reliance on them as primary providers of middle‐skills training. A vital aspect behind this debate is elevating accountability calls from policymakers, parents, and students who question the value of a college degree and expect a return on investment in employment outcomes. Another aspect of this debate is the growing employers’ concerns about the readiness of graduates, which affects the ability of companies to implement new products, services, or business technologies. For many, there is a gap between the supply and demand of skilled workers and community colleges are not serving the needs of their students, employers, and communities. The article suggests two strategies to address the challenges associated with a skilled‐first economy and employee skills mismatch: (1) developing different approaches to credentialing by embracing lifelong learning, and (2) strengthening the collaboration between career services and employers to effectively support lifelong learning.