Colleges have weakened their economic value by easing admissions standards, Mark Schneider argues in an AEI analysis. Without restoring credible gatekeeping, he warns, employers will increasingly question the value of a college degree.
Scenarios are stories about the future, not predictions, that present what could happen in the future in a way that is coherent, plausible, and consistent.
As automation and fewer entry-level jobs reshape the labor market, community colleges must move beyond reactive workforce training and take a more proactive role in regional economic growth.
A 2025 survey of over 150 companies found that more than a quarter, 26%, were recruiting from a brief selection of schools, up from 17% that were doing the same in 2022, according to research from recruiting intelligence firm Veris Insights.
