Collaborating for Impact: How Workforce Boards Thrive in Unprecedented Times

At CAEL, it's fair to say that every month is workforce development month. But this month's official designation by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals is a good reminder to stay focused on this topic. Its importance touches all corners of our economy and is a key success factor for adult learners as they pursue education and career pathways.

Changes to those ever-evolving pathways have accelerated over the past few years, prompting workforce development boards to call upon creativity and collaboration like never before. CAEL spoke with five innovative WDB directors from across the country about how they are tackling training and placement in the wake of a pandemic, economic shutdowns, and seemingly endemic economic turbulence.

Their resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit point to opportunities for adapting the nation's workforce system for the permanently changed - and ever-changing - ecosystem it must thrive in. This has profound implications for education and training providers, employers, nonprofits, funders, government agencies, and, most importantly, adult learners and equitable economic mobility.

CAEL has published a research brief summarizing these conversations. Click here to read it.

Download the brief