Recent and future graduates heading out into the workforce for the first time may feel as if a lack of experience on their resume will hurt their chances of finding a good job. Now, a nonprofit agency has developed an online tool designed to help colleges identify local employment trends in order to prepare students for the future. Jobs for the Future (JFF) recently launched the real-time market information technology called "Credentials that Work" that will provide educators with details about emerging job trends to help them create courses that align with their local labor market. John Dorrer, JFF's labor and workforce researcher, told Community College Week that the tool is significant in helping colleges forecast curriculum needs. "Decisions on which programs to offer, and what to teach in class, should correspond to employers’ immediate and ongoing demand for workers in a particular occupation or with a specific set of skills," Dorrer added. So far, 10 community colleges across the country have signed up to use the new program. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that professionals with an advanced degree on their resume can earn $1,000 more than those with some or no college education. |