Career Education Report

With nearly 200,000 registered nursing job openings annually, the U.S. nursing shortage is reaching a critical point. On this episode of Career Education Report, host Jason Altmire speaks with Susan Mayer, Chief Learning Officer of Achieving the Dream, which supports over 300 community colleges to create opportunities and remove barriers to learning. Mayer explains how innovations like part-time programs, simulation technology, and credit for prior learning can help colleges expand the capacity of their nursing programs and bring more learners, including CNAs and LPNs already in the workforce, onto an RN pathway. She argues that solving the shortage requires community colleges to rethink not just how they teach, but who they're designing their programs for.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the workforce, while career and technical education is evolving alongside it. As employers integrate AI into more industries, educators are exploring how to prepare students for jobs that increasingly rely on these technologies.In this episode, host Jason Altmire speaks with Michael Connet, Associate Deputy Executive Director of the Association for Career and Technical Education and Shawn Freie, Workforce Development Coordinator of the Canadian Valley Technology Center. They discuss why hands-on experience with AI tools is becoming important for students entering technical fields and why maintaining a human-centered approach will remain essential as these technologies continue to develop.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

For perhaps the first time in American history, the United States is facing the prospect of a decline in its working age population. As various trades and health care industries face mass worker shortages and artificial intelligence disrupts some entry-level job fields, how can employers and workers thrive? Today’s guest, Burning Glass Institute Chief Economist Gad Levanon, tells host Jason Altmire about the importance of both improving wages for in-demand professions like registered nurses and breaking down longstanding barriers to women in highly male-dominated professions like truck driving. Levanon also says it’s vital to embrace new tools like artificial intelligence, saying that these tools are here to stay and can ultimately help employers and industries innovate.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

On this episode of Career Education Report, former Massachusetts Governor and current Education at Work CEO Jane Swift joins host Jason Altmire to explain why experience has become the real gatekeeper to career success. She outlines why internships, work-based learning, and competency-based models are increasingly essential as degrees alone no longer guarantee workforce readiness. She also discusses how AI is reshaping mid-skill careers and elevating the importance of communication, adaptability, and problem-solving.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

As Career Education Report embarks on its next one hundred episodes, host Jason Altmire sits down with Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis to discuss how states can better align higher education systems with workforce and economic outcome. Drawing on his experience as Colorado’s governor and Chair of the National Governors Association, Polis outlines a bipartisan approach to workforce development that emphasizes credential value, employer engagement, and clear pathways from education to employment. This episode is a must-listen for higher education leaders focused on workforce alignment and student success.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

For Career Education Report’s 100th episode, host Jason Altmire is joined by Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent for an in-depth conversation on the direction of higher education and what it means for students, institutions, and taxpayers. A first-generation college student himself, Under Secretary Kent reflects on how his personal experience shapes his approach to higher education policy and the nation’s student loan portfolio. The discussion explores how the Department of Education is balancing affordability, accountability, and accessibility while working to bring greater stability to a regulatory environment long defined by uncertainty. The Under Secretary shares insights on how consensus was reached at the last three negotiated rulemakings, addresses the FAFSA lower-earnings indicator, discusses enforcement actions, and highlights how federal policy can better connect education with workforce demand. This episode offers a candid look at the priorities and policy choices defining the next chapter of higher education. To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

Artificial intelligence is changing how jobs are done, but will it replace people or transform the trades? In this episode, author, public speaker, and Future of Work and AI advisor Kelly Monahan joins host Jason Altmire to explain how AI is amplifying human skills rather than eliminating them. She introduces the rise of gray-collar roles that combine hands-on expertise with technology across skilled trades, healthcare, and technical fields, and explains why human and AI teams consistently outperform individuals. Listeners will gain practical insight on how leaders can prepare their workforce for rapid change while keeping human judgment and value at the center.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

Higher education is operating in a more competitive, consumer-driven environment than ever before, and new data shows what actually moves the needle. In this episode, Patrick Patterson, CEO of Level Agency, and Prithwi Dasgupta, President of LeadSquared North America, join host Jason Altmire to unpack national benchmarking data, analyzing more than 500,000 student inquiries and $100 million in higher education advertising spend.The conversation explores what the data reveals about enrollment performance today, including why responding to student inquiries within the first five minutes leads to significantly higher conversion rates, how channel mix and brand building impact cost per enrollment, and where many institutions are misallocating their marketing dollars. Listen now and learn how to adjust your marketing strategy!Learn more about Level Agency here.Learn more about LeadSquared here.Read the report here.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

At a time when middle-skills jobs can offer salaries over $55,000 annually without requiring a bachelor’s degree, the U.S. still isn’t producing enough workers to fill these roles. Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) Director of Research, Zack Mabel, joins host Jason Altmire to discuss CEW’s recent report, Missed Opportunities: Credential Shortages in Programs Aligned with High-Paying Middle-Skills Jobs in 55 US Metro Areas. Together, they explore the structural and cultural forces behind the middle-skills gap and why certain sectors, especially the trades, face staggering shortages. The conversation highlights metro-level variations, the persistent impact of “college-for-all” messaging, and the nuances of credential shortages and surpluses in healthcare fields specifically. The episode offers a fresh perspective on how institutions can expand opportunity without defaulting to the four-year degree.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

America’s shortage of skilled construction workers isn’t just an industry issue; it’s a problem for communities nationwide. Today’s guest, Building Talent Foundation CEO Branka Minic, tells host Jason Altmire that without enough framers, roofers, electricians, and other tradespeople, the entire housing market and economy feel the strain. And with 40% of the industry expected to retire by 2031, solutions are needed fast.Minic says her organization is tackling this challenge head on, offering career coaching to more than 200,000 young people and helping 5,000 disadvantaged workers start new careers. She explains why rebuilding America’s skilled trades pipeline means healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities — and why investing in people is the key to rebuilding the nation’s future.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

Torrie Jasuwan has held many titles over the years – hairdresser, businesswoman, millionaire matchmaker, real estate agent, and more. But the throughline of all of those careers and experiences, she tells host Jason Altmire, are the trades.Jasuwan shares her passion for supporting women in the skilled trades and discusses how hands-on careers can lead to a six-figure salary with the right training. She also explains why trade skills are becoming even more valuable in an AI-driven world — and how they can make workers indispensable in an ever-changing economy.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

Today’s college students are more diverse than ever, hailing from every background, region, and stage of life. American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) President Dr. Charles Welch tells host Jason Altmire how regional public universities are meeting the needs of this new student demographic. Representing more than 500 campuses in nearly every state and educating about 70% of public undergraduates, AASCU institutions play a vital role in workforce development. Dr. Welch explains how these universities are bridging the divide between traditional humanities and liberal arts with a workforce-based educational process in a way that—while addressing fundamental challenges like cost and scalability that workforce programs nationwide face.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

Closing America’s skills gap isn’t just about opportunity awareness—it’s about breaking the stigma around career education. Skilled Careers Coalition advisory board member Mark Hedstrom joins host Jason Altmire to explain what it takes to inspire young people to explore careers outside the traditional four-year degree. From authentic storytelling to meeting students where they are on TikTok and Instagram, Hedstrom shares how to connect with Gen Z in ways that actually resonate. He also highlights the exciting opportunities in today’s skilled careers and why the next generation deserves a clearer, stigma-free pathway into the workforce.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

Amidst a constantly shifting legal and regulatory environment, Melanie Storey, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), joins host Jason Altmire to discuss how her association is helping nearly 3,000 institutions navigate student aid challenges. From FAFSA rollout struggles to Department of Education staff cuts, Storey explains why sound implementation and transparency are critical for student success. She also highlights how NASFAA’s advocacy is shaping federal policy to reduce barriers for students while strengthening institutions’ ability to deliver aid effectively.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how higher education institutions attract, enroll, and support students, bringing exciting opportunities and new challenges. Career education leaders Dana Hutton and Stephen Arthur join Jason Altmire to discuss their new best practices guide in which they explore how AI can simplify enrollment, reduce barriers, and create better outcomes for students. They discuss how these tools can help improve the efficiency of the admissions process and enhance marketing, but only if there are clear goals tied to student success, proper oversight, and high-quality, well-organized data for an AI tool to use. To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

As America faces a critical shortage of skilled workers, StrataTech Education Group is stepping up to provide students with the innovative training and technology they need to succeed, regardless of their background. President and CEO, Mary Kelly, joins host Jason Altmire to share how StrataTech’s trade schools are opening doors to opportunity through cutting edge-programs, including virtual reality welding simulations with Oculus headsets and the integration of robotic welding systems known as “cobots.” Just as important, Kelly highlights the strong culture of support and accountability that ensures students are prepared not only to graduate, but to thrive in their careers. With more than 6,000 graduates each year and a 90% placement rate, StrataTech has become a model for how career education can deliver meaningful ROI and life-changing results.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

In a rapidly changing and highly competitive educational landscape, how can schools take their learning to the next level? Today’s guest, Nuno Fernandes, shares how American Public University System delivers affordable, high-quality education through a digital model. As the nation’s number one educator of U.S. military members and veterans, APUS serves learners in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, and their digital delivery allows personalized education for all, no matter where they are in the world. He tells host Jason Altmire how the system’s investment in AI and other innovative technologies streamlines operations, enhances learning, and prepares students for the demands of today’s workforce. To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.

What if every math lesson could help students discover a new career? Dr. Joseph Goins, CEO of Pathway2Careers, wants to bridge the gap between academic subjects and career opportunities to answer the age-old question, “When will I ever use this?” He tells host Jason Altmire how his organization works to embed labor market data into daily lessons, helping students see the relevance of what they’re learning. Goins believes that tools like his can become part of a larger shift in public education that helps students prepare for meaningful careers.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.