For the 62 percent of US adults who are at least 25 years old and without a bachelor's degree, postsecondary certificates and associate degrees, also known as middle-skills credentials, can be a pathway to higher-paying jobs and more satisfying careers. However, in its 2024 report, The Great Misalignment, Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that across the US, more than 50 percent of credentials do not align with local workforce needs, leading to frustration among individuals still struggling to find work and employers straining to fill job openings.

Public community colleges, two-year degree institutions, and private training organizations are the most common providers of middle-skills credentials. Individuals may seek such credentials to lift their career prospects or as a stepping stone to a four-year degree. With more employers dropping degree requirements, organizations can benefit from local middle-skills providers preparing potential employees with the knowledge and skills to succeed.

However, the report indicates a concern: Providers are granting too many middle-skills certificates. In fact, 28 percent of all certificates and associate's degrees do not have a direct occupational match. Redistributing some credentials in liberal arts, general studies, and humanities to those more closely tied to job openings could address the misalignment—but providers would need to implement that strategy to benefit program participants.

Misalignment differs by local labor markets, with urban areas often more parallel than rural ones due to the greater number of total providers available. Consider the local area surrounding the Association for Talent Development's headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Data shows the misalignment is 56.5 percent, with 46 providers offering middle-skills programs. Almost 45 percent of credentials have no clear connection to a specific job. An undersupply of credentials exists for jobs in sales, blue-collar positions, and food and personal services, and an oversupply is present for jobs in management and education.

The report offers several paths to improvement. Middle-skills providers should improve individuals' information about local job prospects and their earning potential by providing accurate marketing regarding their return on investment and more robust career counseling.

It takes a village. The broader ecosystem around middle-skills providers, including federal and state governments and employers, must invest in greater access to local providers through direct investment, better data on future workforce demands, and greater coordination.

When people have more varied opportunities to build a meaningful and sustainable career and companies have a broader pool of potential job candidates, everyone can work together to build flourishing local economies.