(972) 510-3395 | [email protected] (Denver, CO) – Today, Young Invincibles Rocky Mountain released “Workforce Chutes and Education Ladders: Barriers and Supports in Postsecondary Credentialing in Jefferson County, Colorado,” a research report addressing barriers and necessary supports for stackable credentials and workforce advancements. Stackable credentials are part of a sequence of industry-recognized qualifications that students can earn over time to build their skills and advance their careers. These credentials allow learners to take individual courses without enrolling in a full-time college program, making education more flexible and accessible. Students can complete these courses quickly, stacking them vertically to progress towards a degree or certificate or earning multiple credentials at the same level horizontally. The research outlines statistics on barriers to career advancement, knowledge of stackable credentials, the importance of these credentials, and ways young adults have heard or would like to hear about stackable credential opportunities in the future. In addition to data-driven conclusions, personal narratives and experiences from focus group participants helped identify four top-line recommendations to simplify pathways and ensure young adults can access critical resources. In response, Emmett Blaney, Report Author and Rocky Mountain Policy Coordinator at Young Invincibles, said:
“Stackable credentials offer a pathway to innumerable opportunities that otherwise may not have been possible for young Coloradans and non-traditional learners. It is critical that these credentials not only be readily available, but also be affordable and accessible. These pathways accelerate economic mobility for low-income learners and will help tackle the unemployment, wealth, and education gaps across Colorado. We must continue to invest in the success of young Coloradans, and prioritizing pathways to stackable credentials is a necessary step.”
In response, Jordan Salas, a student pursuing a Health Information Technology: Medical Coding Certificate at Pueblo Community College, said:
“[The] certificate [I earned with stackable credentials] is a fast track to being able to work in a completely different field of work and will allow me to make more money than I currently do without having to go to school for another 2-4 years. It will also save me thousands of dollars by not having to go to school for those extra years. If other Coloradans had the opportunity to earn a credential like myself, I think more people would be able to work in a career quicker without having to worry about burnout or not being able to afford a 4-year degree.”
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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Emma Bittner