Career Adaptability

Career Adaptability

Career adaptability is created through a system of pathways that connect employment opportunities and advancement. Gaining skills in decision making, planning, exploration, and confidence allows workers to master vocational transitions as they continue developing in their careers (Hirschi, 2009, pg. 3). Currently, the U.S. spends an estimated $400 billion a year on post-secondary education; however, there is a misalignment of post-secondary skills between schools and the workforce (Austin, Mellow, Rosin, Seltzer, 2012). Career adaptability would carry these skills to the workforce. 

Workers gain portable, stackable credentials through proper education and training. These credentials also allow workers’ qualifications to accumulate, are recognized across the country, and follow workers if they change locations. In the U.S., 51% of post-secondary programs take less than a year and 41% take between one and two years (Austin, Mellow, Rosin, Seltzer, 2012). Short training periods make career adaptability programs efficient, and once completed, students enter the job market at accelerated rates.   

By having educational programs and businesses work together to create pathways for workers, the gap between education and the workforce decreases. An easy, simple pathway helps people advance their skillset and seek higher-paying jobs. The increase of post-secondary graduates offers a ready and trained workforce. By having trained workers in local economies, the United States’ labor market becomes more competitive.  The national economy benefits through the partnership of government, businesses, and education programs (Albrecht, 2011, pg. 19).

Through career adaptability, lower-skilled workers, high school students, disconnected youth, and veterans can earn workforce-ready credentials. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, stackable credentials allow an individual to become more educated. Therefore, the individual strengthens the workforce, leading to a positive change in the entire economy (Ganzglass, 2014, pg. 2).