WorkingNation

💡 Millions of Americans want to make a career change — but can’t. Not because they’re unmotivated. But because the path to upskilling is blocked by cost, time, and access. A new McKinsey & Co. report finds that 44% of employed workers say they’re willing to switch occupations. But for many, the biggest challenge is getting the training they need to move forward. The good news? They know where to turn - and they’re looking to community colleges, employers, and nonprofits for support. ➡️ Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gkU_DaS2

For some students, finishing college doesn’t hinge on motivation. It hinges on whether a single course is available. A growing number of institutions are addressing that challenge by embracing course sharing - offering students access to online courses across a broader network of schools. ➡️ At the University of Mount Union, that means more than 2,000 new course options. ➡️ At Angelo State, it’s become a key strategy to support students on probation, athletes, and working learners. Instead of asking students to work around the system, schools are redesigning the system to work better for them. How else can institutions reimagine their support models to help students stay the course? 💭 ➡️ Learn more about course sharing and it's impact on college enrollment: https://lnkd.in/gNhSaARC

When over 800 workers at two California refineries learned their jobs would be ending, there was no sugar-coating the impact - but there was time to prepare. That made all the difference. Instead of scrambling, many workers were matched with career navigators who helped them explore new roles, gain credit for skills learned on the job, or transition into industries like solar, EVs, and HVAC. Even those without formal degrees were given real pathways forward. What stood out most wasn’t just the programs - it was the coordination. 🏆 Unions, nonprofits, local agencies, and employers came together with a shared goal: Don’t let people fall through the cracks. It begs the question... if this model works, why aren’t we using it more often? hould more employers be required to build structured transition plans before a closure? ⬇️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/gqG9EMz2

Caregivers keep the economy running. So why do workplaces still treat them like an afterthought? This episode explores what it really takes to support working families - from flexible job design and paid leave to real-world policies that already work. We bring together insights from business leaders, legal experts, and care advocates to show why caregiving is economic infrastructure, and how investing in it makes our economy stronger. 🎙 Featuring Reshma Saujani (Moms First), Eve Rodsky (Fair Play), Josie Cox (Women, Money, Power), June Carbone, and Caitlin Codella Low🎧 Listen via WorkingNation’s podcast: https://lnkd.in/g2jVX_DN Workplaces can’t thrive without care. Let’s build better systems together. This podcast series was made possible through funding from Lumina Foundation

Reentry is more than returning home... it’s about rebuilding a life. And for many women impacted by the justice system, that process is full of roadblocks. → Employment gaps → Limited access to child care → Lack of training These factors make it difficult to find stable, long-term work. Even when the motivation is there, the support often isn’t. That’s why programs rooted in lived experience are so powerful. At places like The Ladies of Hope Ministries and WPA, women are gaining digital skills, learning how to launch small businesses, and finding careers that offer real potential - not just a paycheck. One graduate summed it up simply: “These things can be used in my everyday life.” When we talk about workforce development, this is what it looks like in action - practical, personal, and deeply needed. ➡️ Get the full breakdown of what’s working and why it matters: https://lnkd.in/g4BcxX6w

Nevada is betting on more than tourism to power its economy. To future-proof its workforce, the state is investing in five fast-growing industries - and using education and training as the foundation. Here’s how the WINN program is making it happen: → Mining, manufacturing, and mobility - Programs are preparing workers for lithium loop jobs, clean energy careers, and next-gen manufacturing tied to companies like Tesla and NORCAT. → Hands-on training, delivered locally - From VR mine safety training to mobile tech labs reaching rural towns, WINN is meeting workers where they are — literally. → Stackable credentials - Workers can start with non-credit training, earn certifications, and build toward a degree at their own pace. → Strong public-private partnerships - Colleges, employers, and state leaders are aligning programs with real labor market demand. It’s a statewide effort to reimagine what workforce development can look like & who it should include. What would it take to bring this level of alignment and innovation in all 50 states? 👇 👉 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gnFtby3R

📣 Ambitious mothers aren’t leaving the workforce because they lack drive. They’re burning out in systems designed to ignore caregiving. In this episode, we examine the structural failures pushing talented women out of their peak earning years - and what’s lost when workplaces don’t support care. How do rigid expectations, constant availability, and economic inequality contribute to burnout? And what would it look like if care was actually built into the workplace? 🎙 Featuring June Carbone, Naomi Cahn, and Nancy Levit 📘 Co-authors of Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy 🎧 Presented by WorkingNation Is burnout a personal failing - or a workplace design flaw? Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gbWpPkV8 Lumina Foundation WABE Naomi Cahn Nancy Levit June Carbone

What happens when 800+ workers find out their job is gone—and they actually have time to prepare for layoffs? Unlike most closures, the shutdown of Phillips 66's California refineries is playing out differently. 👉 Workers got a full year’s notice. 👉 Coalitions mobilised early - bringing unions, nonprofits, and training partners to the table. 👉 Career navigators are working one-on-one with impacted workers. 👉 Skills - not degrees - are driving hiring conversations. This isn’t just about refinery jobs. It’s a case study in what workforce transition done right can look like. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gqG9EMz2

The “traditional” housewife ideal? It wasn’t tradition. It was marketing. In the postwar boom, industry leaders and advertisers crafted a narrative: women belong in the home, not the workforce. This wasn’t just cultural... it was economic strategy. Decades later, that myth still lingers. It shapes hiring practices, workplace policies, and how we value caregiving. In this episode, we trace how gender roles were sold to the American public - and why many women are still navigating the fallout. 🎙 With Lisa Selin Davis, Reshma Saujani (Moms First), Chris Herbst, Dr. Barbara Risman, and Josie Cox. Presented by WorkingNation. What expectations still show up in your workplace today? 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/g-h2bUUt barbara Risman Lisa Selin Davis WABE Lumina Foundation

Nearly half of U.S. workers are ready to change jobs - if only they could get the training. Imagine wanting to pursue a new career but feeling like every doorway is locked. That’s reality for millions: - 44% say they want to switch occupations - But they’re held back by cost, time, and access to training This isn’t a lack of ambition. It’s a lack of opportunity. Here’s where things get interesting: ✅ Workers are actively looking to community colleges (41%) for help ✅ They also trust employers (35%) and nonprofits (23%) ✅ Yet, many still don’t know how to start, where to go, or who will pay 👉 We’re at a moment where real change demands real access. If training programs were more affordable, flexible, and visible, how many more people could reinvent their careers? What’s one change that would make up skilling truly possible for all workers? ➡️ Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gkU_DaS2