The United States has a housing deficit. One reason for the gap: a lack of workers in the construction industry. Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont and the Lennar Foundation are working in North Carolina to expand pathways to skilled careers in the construction trades. In June, a new cohort of more than 200 participants … Continued
For nearly two decades, Mike Rowe has been laboring to reshape the conversation about work, dignity, and opportunity in America. His popular TV show “Dirty Jobs” and scholarship program has helped thousands of Americans find work in the skilled trades. Now Rowe is taking his message directly to towns and cities across America. Last fall, … Continued
High school and college graduates are not the only ones fretting about their futures. As The Wall Street Journal reports, “Roughly a quarter of American professionals hit a wall in their careers before their peak earning years, going at least five years without a real boost in pay or position.” Those findings come from a new … Continued
On May 6, SkillsUSA held its annual National Signing Day, a nationwide celebration that showcases the next generation of skilled professionals who will build, expand, and sustain American prosperity. Parents, school administrators, and employers attended events across the country where students signed sign letters of intent for a job offer, internship or apprenticeship, or career and … Continued
Ball State University student Michael E. Moore grew up just outside of Indianapolis. At Southport High School, he played multiple sports and was president of the school’s chapter of DECA, a nationwide organization for young leaders and entrepreneurs. After choosing Ball State for its small class sizes and opportunity to better know his professors, Moore … Continued
In a rapidly changing economy — one where it seems many college graduates are in jobs unrelated to their degrees — do Americans need a traditional four-year university experience? Or do they need access to shorter learning pathways? The answer is: both. Consider the results of a Gallup and Lumina Foundation poll published in April 2026, which found: About … Continued
At the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF), we believe that people closest to a problem are best positioned to solve it. Merit America has been doing exactly that for working adults who have the potential to succeed in a labor market that hasn’t always made it easy to prove their value. And now Fast Company has … Continued
Higher education is facing a pivotal moment. RealClearEducation recently published an op-ed by Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) Vice President for Future of Work Laura Demarse that outlines how colleges and universities can better prepare students for the workforce, spur economic expansion — and ensure their own financial survival. “Not every person needs a college degree … Continued
Fears about artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the economy — and, more importantly, people and their jobs — are widespread. But if society prioritizes human potential (not just a person’s degree or past job) and acknowledges employers’ and employees’ capacity to innovate and improve during times of upheaval, AI presents profound opportunity. Here … Continued
A college degree does not guarantee that a person will earn a family-sustaining paycheck — or that they will find purpose in the work they do. More Americans are embracing this idea. And now, some employers’ talent practices are catching up. The Burning Glass Institute has released an updated Skillability Index, which highlights U.S. employers that … Continued
