At a time when the country disagrees on nearly everything, most Americans still agree on this: higher education should lead to a good job.
For decades, it’s been widely accepted that the best path to success after high school, and, ultimately, the American dream, is by earning a traditional college degree. But today, more people are skeptical about the ROI of college, especially Gen Zers, and the possibility of taking on significant debt, being underemployed or working in fields unrelated to their studies.
The mindset is shifting. And not a moment too soon.
Across the U.S., as older workers retire, employers in health care, skilled trades and other essential sectors can’t find enough qualified people. This “silver tsunami” threatens long-term competitiveness and is especially acute in healthcare, as workers shift from delivering care to needing it. Florida feels this pressure intensely, with a growing, aging population and communities that are already dental or health-care deserts.
Fortunately, a solution exists to the problem: industry-aligned education. Programs that prepare students for “skilled collar” jobs in high-demand fields offer a faster, more affordable pathway to fulfilling careers than traditional college. These jobs power economic growth and have a direct bearing on the nation’s infrastructure — from the cars we drive to the food we eat and the health care we receive.
These are also jobs that won’t easily be replaced by AI: although the technology is an enormous enabler in the workplace to quickly identify issues and possible solutions, the reality is the human touch is literally needed in these jobs, whether it’s placing a blood transfusion in a patient’s arm or welding the structural components of a new high-rise.
Here are three things we can do now:
Level the playing field. Let’s judge programs by outcomes (completion and job placement) rather than credit hours or brand names. This requires sustained investment in partnerships between education providers and employers, so students are learning the skills local labor markets need. Taxpayer dollars should follow what works, period.
We must move faster. Many industries evolve too quickly for a one-size-fits-all, four-year timeline. To be clear, this is not a dismissal of college; that model still has a place, but it shouldn’t be the only path validated. Quicker, flexible learning options like stackable credentials, apprenticeships and hands-on programs let people upskill or reskill without pausing their lives and better reflect today’s economic reality.
Start career exploration earlier. Research from YouScience shows nearly 70% of 2024 graduates lacked strong confidence in their post-graduation plans, and 42% wished they had explored other paths sooner. The Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation finds students should encounter hands-on learning and career pathways in middle school, around age 14, rather than waiting until senior year.
It’s time to redefine what success after high school means and dispel the one-size-fits-all narrative around college and careers. What matters is not the type of institution, but whether students complete their education, enter the workforce and have opportunities for upward mobility.
The consequences are clear if we don’t act: Too many young people will be stuck in jobs that don’t tap their potential, and employers — especially in fast-growing states like Florida — will pay the price.
Todd Hitchcock of Orlando is Chief Operating Officer at Universal Technical Institute, a national leader in workforce training programs with a campus in Orlando.
