Community colleges have historically served as engines of regional economic development, drawing on strong community integration to translate labor market needs into accessible education. However, rapid technological change and the decline of entry-level jobs now require a recalibration of this mission.
Traditionally, workforce programming has operated in a manner similar to a vendor model. Employers request specific training, and colleges provide it. This reactive approach addresses immediate hiring needs but seldom cultivates sustainable regional capacity.
Instead, the contemporary economy requires strategic partnerships focused on co-designed curricula and long-term worker adaptability. The central question has shifted from whether colleges contribute to growth, to whether they can lead with the strategic vision needed in a labor market transformed by automation and rapid occupational change. Meeting this challenge requires an expanded economic development role—one that goes beyond training transactions toward shared-value partnerships, entrepreneurship ecosystem development and active technology diffusion.
Read more at Community College Daily.
