The Employer-Educator Partnership That Can Fill U.S. Jobs

This article examines the growing disconnect between employer workforce needs and the preparation of middle-skills workers in the United States. Fuller and Raman argue that community colleges represent one of the largest potential sources of talent for employers, yet collaboration between businesses and educational institutions remains insufficient. The authors identify shortcomings in workforce development partnerships and propose practical strategies to strengthen employer engagement in curriculum design, training programs, and career pathways. The article contends that businesses should play a leading role in building stronger employer-educator partnerships to address labor shortages, improve workforce readiness, and expand economic opportunity for workers without four-year college degrees.