August 13, 2019
Non-Degree Credentials Provide Value for Adults in the Labor Market
Our current Director, Debra Bragg, had her research used in conjunction with a number of other researchers who carried out seven independent but coordinated analyses involving 49 community and technical colleges across 8 states.
The report examines labor market outcomes for adults who obtain non-degree credentials and provides a few key findings suggesting:
• Non-degree credentials are associated with increased employment
• Earnings gains are larger and more consistent for non-degree credentials that take 6 months or more to complete
• Labor market benefits to non-degree credentials are present in both health and manufacturing fields, though absolute earnings of non-degree credential holders tend to be larger in the (male-dominated) manufacturing sector compared to the (female-dominated) health sector