Community college leaders can confidently boast that it's "their turn and their time" to lead higher education in boosting student workforce outcomes, thanks to potent new microcredentials that steer learners to high-demand fields, says Lisa Larson, CEO of the nonprofit Education Design Lab.

About 100 colleges work with the Lab's Community College Growth Engine to build short-term microcredential programs that correspond to the latest labor market demands. Among some of the most relevant programs are in information technology, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.

Learners can pursue a micropathway, which offers a flexible roadmap to stack different microcredentials into a comprehensive certificate. For example, CUNY LaGuardia Community College offers certificates in data analytics and cybersecurity that can be earned by completing two or more microcredentials.