As businesses face difficulty in finding qualified talent, shifting hiring practices to a focus on specific skills is key to addressing workforce shortages. Through their SkillsFWD partnership, Western Governors University (WGU), the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and the Institute for Workforce Excellence are building a comprehensive learning and employment record (LER) ecosystem that provides the human capital needed to drive a robust, forward-thinking economy through public-private partnerships. 

Aspyr, a SkillsFWD grantee and leader in workforce innovation, recently received a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) program to further develop and scale apprenticeship opportunities across Central Ohio. Funding will help establish The Apprenticeship Resource Hub of Central Ohio (ARHCO), a centralized system designed to simplify access to apprenticeships.

We recently sat down with Heidi Hernandez Gatty, vice president of sponsored projects and funds for RPA, and Holly Custard, senior director of data ecosystem partnerships at Strada, for their perspectives on what makes a successful funder collaborative and what role intermediaries play in driving initiatives like SkillsFWD.

The ultimate goal of shifting hiring practices by leveraging digital talent profiles like learning and employment records (LERs) is to provide jobseekers opportunities to secure jobs and other relevant pursuits that match their skills and align with their passions. Our team spoke with Simone Ravaioli, a global ecosystem and innovation director for Instructure, and Colin Reynolds, senior education designer at Education Design Lab, about their personal why and how it inspired them to join the skills movement.

In SkillsFWD’s recent webinar, project teams shared their innovative efforts to create learning and employment record (LERs) ecosystems for industries and users across the U.S. These are the top four insights that emerged across all seven presentations.

As industries evolve and the demand for specific skills increases, finding more accurate and inclusive evaluation methods for diverse talent is crucial for job seekers and employers. Vibrant Pittsburgh, an employer partner of SkillsFWD grantee Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), works to develop inclusive workplace environments as the region seeks to grow and thrive.

Arizona State University (ASU) is dedicated to innovation, inclusivity, and lifelong learning. As a SkillsFWD grantee, ASU is leading a project to empower student workers and foster economic development through learning and employment records (LERs) — hoping to improve job matching and reduce hiring process bias.

Through SkillsFWD, Aspyr is working to power new modes of early career talent and employer matching at scale via learning and employment records (LERs), leveraging work-based learning solutions powered by SchooLinks.

Skills-based hiring prioritizes competence over credentials, providing opportunities for economic mobility to workers without degrees. The approach, centered on innovation and adaptability, evaluates candidates based on specific examples of their skills rather than solely on their educational backgrounds.

As discussions about learning and employment records (LERs) progress, it is crucial to underscore the importance of inclusive user design, particularly in the context of a skills-first movement. Thoughtful design is paramount for engaging users from marginalized communities right from the start.

Today SkillsFWD announced the addition of two new grantees led by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). The new projects are positioned to scale quickly through strong track records of employer and user engagement, advanced technology solutions and well-developed regional partnerships.

When it comes to growth and development, rural states face unique challenges. In Montana's vast landscapes, where communities thrive on interconnectedness and resilience, Accelerate Montana (AMT) is fostering economic empowerment and collaboration.

This blog features a conversation with the Colorado Workforce Development Council — a SkillsFWD grantee — and focuses on the role state and local workforce boards play within a skills-based hiring ecosystem.

Learn more about the program’s latest discoveries and strategy for expanding competency-based learning modules nationwide.

Learn how SkillsFWD grantees will drive meaningful and measurable change to ensure that every individual's unique learning journey is recognized and valued.

Four areas worth watching that will impact the skills-based hiring ecosystem in 2024 and beyond.

Congratulations to our first grantees— six teams that will work to scale adoption of learning and employment records and advance skills-based hiring across the United States.