Rural high school graduates used to be able to find jobs that paid decent wages in industries like farming, mining, manufacturing, and timber harvesting. But automation and globalization have led to requirements for more advanced skills, such as certifications in STEM fields, interpersonal communication skills, and an understanding of not only local and regional, but also global marketplaces.
Providing rural residents with the skills they need to thrive in a changing labor market requires cultural, systemic, and structural investments into postsecondary educational pathways that reflect the new economy.
Rural community colleges, which play a critical role in economic and workforce development, are starting to evolve their programs and educational models in response to these changing needs.
JFF, in partnership with community colleges and local economic, workforce, and community-based organizations, aims to assist rural regions in designing and implementing K-12 to postsecondary pathways that are responsive to industry skill needs. The goal is to also provide the support services necessary to help youth and adults complete education and training programs that lead to good jobs and enable them to stay in their hometowns.