Giving Compass' Take:

• The Credential Engine, the Data Quality Campaign, and five other leading national policy organizations have created a State Policy Partnership to promote credential transparency in all states so that students are aware of the credential systems before making life-altering decisions during this time. 

• What can donors do to help students with career preparedness? How is COVID-19 changing employment opportunities? 

• Read more on how to navigate college and career readiness during COVID-19. 

The coronavirus pandemic is turning the economy upside down, and students are wondering just where they’ll fit in to the workforce of the future. For many, it seems like the old rules no longer apply — there’s no certainty that the economy of a year or two from now will resemble the one these students were expecting.

They can sense it. Year-over-year submissions to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are down sharply since February, including among students who would be returning to college. The dropoff is most severe among students from the lowest-income backgrounds. This trend toward an impending decline in college enrollment in the fall suggests a crisis of confidence among many students that traditional education pathways will pay off in the post-pandemic economy.

Amid all this uncertainty and anxiety, how are young people supposed to make education and career decisions for the future? Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer at the moment. Whether it’s a two- or four-year college degree, a certificate or another type of training or credential, there’s little transparency around what programs will give them the skills and experience they will need to build a successful career in tomorrow’s workforce.

That’s why Credential Engine, the Data Quality Campaign and five other leading national policy organizations have created a State Policy Partnership to promote credential transparency in all states — including information that ensures prospective students are aware of their options, understand how credentials align with each other, and can access data on outcomes for other students who have pursued these credentials. The initiative is intended to empower everyone to make more informed decisions about credentials, the skills they should expect to learn by pursuing them and their value. It’s crucial that students and their families have all the information they need before making life-altering decisions like choosing the degree, certification or other credential program on which to spend their time and money.

Read the full article about navigating the changing workforce by Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger and Scott Cheney at The 74.