Healthcare is one of today’s fastest-growing job sectors. As a populous older generation retires, the demand for skilled labor in this area will continue to grow. And unlike lots of other jobs these days, healthcare jobs aren’t so easily automated or moved offshore.
But the key word here is “skilled.” The healthcare industry depends on a myriad of middle-skilled employees — like nurses, technicians, and caregivers — who require training beyond a high school diploma. But our nation’s bifurcated education system, split between high school and college, doesn’t deliver on that demand.
We’ve reported before on how some funders are keen to help low-income workers, especially young people of color, move into an expanding healthcare workforce. We’ve also written on growing funder interest in middle-skilled jobs, which can offer an upward path to young people who can’t afford college or aren’t prepared for it.
