Today's workplace is going through tremendous changes and becoming highly complex in terms of technology and tasks. Thus, critical problem-solving skills are key to creating a sustainable career in today's global economy. Indeed, the global COVID-19 epidemic has amplified the need for these skills in almost all occupations. This study examined the…

This report makes the case for a shift in emphasis in U.S. education and workforce development policy. Specifically, the report sets out a rationale for investing more in upgrading the foundational skill levels of the U.S. workforce. The report summarizes the results of studies that used data from the 1994 International Adult Literacy Survey…

We know that opportunities exist in the United States, but if we hope to share these more equitably, we need to better understand the ways opportunities currently vary among individuals, families, states, and regions of the country. Using key measures of well-being (including poverty, income, employment, safety, and health) for each state, along…

While some argue that higher education is one of the best ways to improve equity and social mobility, others argue that increasing access to higher education will cause rapid credential inflation in the labor market. This paper reviews recent employment trends and analyzes scholarship around education and work. The Program for the International…

Continuous learning over the life course is necessary to effectively compete in a knowledge-based global economy. Shifts in the age structure of the U.S. labor force combined with increased labor force participation among older adults add to the importance of gaining a better understanding of how adult education and training (AET) influences labor…

The ability to understand, evaluate, and use written information (literacy), process and communicate mathematical information (numeracy), and access and use digital technology are foundational to full participation in today's global, knowledge-based societies. This paper employs the 2012 Program for the International Assessment of Adult…