Julia Freeland Fisher and Mahnaz Charania, Christensen Institute
As well-intentioned as these education and workforce investments may be, the inconvenient truth is that skills and jobs aren’t one and the same. The reality, in fact, is much messier. And more human. Social networks and relationships function as something of an unspoken currency in the world of work. An estimated half of all jobs come through personal connections. And even earlier in the educational pipeline, students’ networks are proven to shape their career ambitions. For the Administration to realize its commitment to improving outcomes for historically underserved learners and workers, more equitable pipelines to employment will need to be built on both skills and networks. Doing so requires more than the occasional job fair or networking event. Instead, network-building must be woven throughout education and workforce pathways.
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