Employability

In 2026, about 70% of employers now hire for skills before degrees, and 75% of resumes never reach a human because of ATS screening. This guide walks through the full career placement toolkit: self-assessment, skills roadmaps, application materials that survive automated filters, and a multi-channel job search that doesn’t rely on one lucky application. It also covers why apprenticeships and structured work-based learning consistently outperform applying cold, with real wage and employment data to back it up.

The EEOC voted to rescind EEO-1 reporting in July 2026, but until a final rule lands, the February filing deadline still applies. This guide walks through federal EEO-1 obligations, the pending proposed rule, and the growing patchwork of state pay data laws in California, Illinois, and Massachusetts. It also covers how apprenticeship reporting through RAPIDS, WIPS, and PIRL overlaps with these requirements, and where most compliance teams go wrong.

A single career fair can fill a resume pile, but it won’t fix a talent pipeline. This guide breaks down what real employer partnerships look like, from registered apprenticeships to shared governance agreements, and shows how institutions move from occasional recruiting events to strategic, accountable relationships. It closes with the metrics and common pitfalls that decide whether a partnership lasts five years or five months.

Learn how top trade school options can lead to fulfilling careers in skilled trades. Discover pathways to success and find the right fit for you when you read our latest guide.

A 90 percent placement rate can hide a program where only six in ten graduates actually work in their field. This guide breaks down what employment outcomes really measure, from six and twelve month checkpoints to underemployment and wage data, and shows how bachelor’s degrees, technical diplomas, and apprenticeships stack up against each other. It closes with practical steps for turning that data into stronger program design.

A certificate program whose graduates earn less than a typical high school diploma holder can now lose its federal funding entirely. The 2024 Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment rules tie every non-degree program’s Title IV eligibility to real IRS debt and earnings data, with new student warnings required starting July 2026. This guide breaks down the D/E and EP thresholds, reporting timelines, and what institutions need to do now.

Which programs count as gainful employment, and what do institutions actually have to report? This guide walks through GE program classification, the D/E and earnings premium tests, disclosure and reporting deadlines, and how to build compliance into program design before the 2027 accountability framework arrives.

Work-based learning turns your talent pipeline problem into a strategic advantage. This guide shows employers how to design programs, partner with schools, stay compliant, and scale — with real ROI data and a 60-90 day plan to launch your first pilot.

School employer partnerships are the bridge between classroom learning and real careers. This guide covers every stage — identifying employer partners, structuring agreements, funding paid experiences, building equitable access, and measuring outcomes — for districts, colleges, and employers ready to build lasting pipelines.

Nearly 40% of job skills are expected to change by 2030. This guide defines workforce skills vs. workplace skills, shows how to run a skills gap analysis, and explains how apprenticeships and work-based learning build skills that actually transfer.