The Problem With the Current System
College is supposed to prepare people for jobs. But for many, that’s not what’s happening. Graduates leave school with debt, but without the skills employers want.
A 2023 report from McKinsey showed that only 31% of employers believe recent graduates are ready to work. Meanwhile, 44% of graduates say they don’t feel prepared for the jobs they’re applying for. That’s a massive gap.
It’s not that students aren’t smart. It’s that schools and industries are not working together. Colleges are often focused on theory, while employers want real skills.
This gap leads to frustration. For students, it means wasted time. For employers, it means unfilled jobs. For communities, it means slower growth.
Why Industry Partnerships Matter
The world is changing fast. Jobs that existed five years ago are gone. New ones are popping up every year. Colleges can’t keep up unless they work with businesses.
When colleges talk to local employers, they can build the right classes and training. That means graduates can walk out of school and into work.
Jon Connolly Sussex helped launch an optics technology programme at a community college in response to a local company’s need. That’s not theory. That’s a real-world fix to a real-world problem.
This type of partnership also builds trust. Students know they’re learning something useful. Companies know they’re getting trained workers. Everyone wins.
What the Data Tells Us
Let’s look at the numbers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- There are over 7.8 million job openings as of April 2024.
- In trades and technical roles, there’s a projected shortage of 2 million workers by 2031.
- Only 38% of employers say colleges are doing “a good job” preparing students (Pew Research).
At the same time, students are spending an average of $35,000 per year to attend college. If that money isn’t buying skills, then what is it buying?
Real Examples That Work
Some colleges are doing it right. Here’s how:
Lineman Training
A rural college worked with utility companies to launch a lineman training programme. Students used real poles, real tools, and trained alongside industry pros. Graduates were hired before they even finished.
Sustainable Culinary Institute
One faculty-led idea turned into a full culinary programme—with its own working farm. Students learned farming, cooking, and business. Local restaurants now hire straight from the programme.
Health Tech Bootcamps
In another case, a health system partnered with a nearby college to offer 10-week bootcamps in medical billing, coding, and tech support. Every student got an interview after completion.
These are not expensive solutions. They’re just smart ones.
What’s Stopping More Colleges?
You might wonder: if partnerships work, why aren’t more schools doing them?
Here’s the problem:
- Bureaucracy: Schools move slowly. Businesses don’t.
- Funding gaps: Many colleges rely on tuition, not industry.
- Lack of communication: Schools don’t always know what employers need.
- Fear of change: Some leaders stick to tradition, even when it’s broken.
The good news? None of these problems are permanent. They’re just habits.
How To Fix It
1. Start With Listening
Colleges need to ask employers one simple question: What do you need us to teach?
This doesn’t mean giving up academic freedom. It means being useful. Businesses can offer insights. Schools can turn those into strong programmes.
2. Build Programmes Backwards
Don’t build a course and hope someone wants it. Start with a job, then design the course that leads to it.
Ask: What does someone need to know to do this job on day one? Then build from there.
3. Bring Industry Into the Classroom
Guest speakers are good. Co-teaching is better. Let companies help teach. It makes lessons real. It also builds early connections between students and employers.
4. Share the Risk
Ask companies to co-invest. If they want workers, they can help fund the training. Some already do this through tuition reimbursement or apprenticeships. Take it further—offer naming rights, equipment, even instructors.
5. Measure What Matters
Stop measuring education by seat time. Measure it by job placement, skill development, and value created.
If a student spends two years in a programme and doesn’t get hired, the system failed. Don’t ignore that.
What Students Should Know
If you’re a student reading this, here’s your takeaway:
- Ask your college what industry partners they work with.
- Choose programmes with hands-on learning.
- Look for colleges that talk openly about job placement.
- If no one can tell you what job the course leads to—don’t enrol.
Education is an investment. You wouldn’t buy a car without knowing where it goes. Don’t do that with school either.
What Employers Can Do
Businesses can’t just complain about bad hiring pools. They need to get involved.
- Call your local college. Ask how you can help shape a course.
- Offer internships, job shadows, or training equipment.
- Sponsor a class or create a certification.
- Hire graduates and give feedback on what they still need to learn.
It’s not charity. It’s building your talent pipeline.
What Policymakers Should Push
Policy should reward outcomes, not inputs.
- Fund colleges based on job placement rates.
- Give tax breaks to companies that co-invest in training.
- Support fast-track programmes tied to real jobs.
- Incentivise rural partnerships where growth is slower.
The public wants results. Funding should follow success.
Final Thoughts
Workforce education is not a future problem. It’s a now problem.
Colleges need industry. Industry needs colleges. It’s not about selling out—it’s about showing up.
Build real training. Connect to real jobs. Keep it simple. Make it work.
That’s the future. And it’s already here.
