The “skills gap” idea – that millions of well-paying jobs go unfilled due to a higher education system that is inadequately aligned to workforce needs – is deeply influencing education and workforce development policies at the state and national levels. The purpose of this symposium is to spark dialogue about issues related to the skills gap narrative (i.e., internships, labor market data, and for-profit colleges), and why critical analyses of these issues are essential so that students can make informed decisions about their educational and career plans.
Videos
Keynote by Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom
Overview of the Skills Gap Narrative
Panel Discussion I: Challenges with Designing Ethical and Effective Internship Programs
Panel Discussion II: A Critical Approach to the “Skills Gap” Using Labor Market Data