With all of the coverage on the state of education during COVID-19, one important topic is being overlooked. Half of the US labor market is comprised of middle-skill workers. These are the people on the frontlines right now, the ones who are eligible for open roles in key industries, but the ones who are not being […]
5 Predictions for the Future of Work Podcast
I spoke with Mike Palmer to share five predictions for the Future of Work in his podcast, Trending in Education. With the middle skill workforce so heavily impacted by automation and changes in learning format, it’s important for companies to be ready for change in 2020. In this podcast, we discuss the trends Penn Foster […]
Colleges must speak employers’ language on skills training
As more employers are looking to offer education as a benefit to train their workers with new skills, there is increased need for education providers to speak two languages. Employers are looking for job readiness and consistency. Workers are looking for employment and income improvements. We need to adapt to provide value to both. Read more about workforce planning and what education providers need to do to teach the skills employers are looking for on educationdive.com
Insights from SXSWEDU 2019 On Closing the Skills Gap
Closing the middle skills gap was a hot topic of conversation at SXSWEDU 2019, and Penn Foster was right in the middle of the discussion. Panelists from education and workforce development organizations identified four areas of focus that could help close the middle skills gap, creating opportunity for workers and employers alike. Bringing their ideas […]
How Career Colleges Can Help Promote Careers in STEM Fields
As posted on FosterEDU blog Post-secondary enrollment rates are on the rise, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.1 In fall 2012, 17.7. million undergraduate students were enrolled in a degree-granting postsecondary institution, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Undergraduate enrollment is on the rise, and expected to increase to 20.2 million […]
The ‘Grey Collar’ Career Challenge
In the midst of a changing employment market there is a new class of jobs emerging—occupations with solid job growth and earnings potential. We call these “grey collar” jobs and at their core they are more skilled occupations than, say, garbage pickup or construction (and absolutely no disrespect to those jobs)—but less technologically advanced than […]
Penn Foster to Lead Panel Discussion at 2014 SXSWedu Conference
Scranton, PA (Feb. 28, 2014) — Penn Foster, a leader in career-focused online and hybrid education designed to address the skills gap in America, will lead a panel discussion, “Online Education as a Passport for Learning,” at the SXSWedu Conference on Tuesday, March 4th in Austin, Texas. At SXSWedu, innovative leaders come together to discuss the future of American education and […]
The Company That’s Been Re-Thinking Online Education For 100+ Years
With middle-skill jobs lagging, workers need to adapt to stay relevant. And as occupations continue to evolve, ongoing training shifts from a luxury into a necessity—a necessity Penn Foster has provided for more than 100 years. “The principle from the beginning is that there’s a population of people in the United States who are underserved and need training,” […]
