Background

In a time of rapid and complex technological, economic, and social change, building an equitable, prosperous, and future-ready New Jersey calls for a relentless focus on helping more New Jerseyans achieve postsecondary degrees and credentials that lead to genuine economic mobility and opportunity and that align with evolving employer skill needs. Postsecondary education is more critical than ever to accessing good jobs and career pathways with family-sustaining wages and, ultimately, to creating healthy, vibrant communities. New Jersey must prepare all residents for the technologies that are changing how we live, learn, and work. As data make clear, however, high quality academic and economic opportunities are not equally available to all New Jerseyans, with racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities persisting. Without concerted, collaborative, cross-sector action, the status quo will leave too many communities behind and make it impossible for our economy to remain competitive.

Commitments

The member organizations of the Future Ready Coalition commit to helping New Jersey adopt and pursue a new statewide educational attainment goal: for 75 percent of New Jersey adults in the labor market to have postsecondary degrees or credentials of value by 2040, defined as degrees and credentials that lead to jobs with pay that exceeds the national median earnings of a high school graduate by at least 15 percent. Through this commitment, the Coalition members will work together to contribute, as appropriate, to:

• Developing shared strategic blueprints with actionable recommendations that help shape state policy and investments, including around the increase of short-term credentials;
• Facilitating cross-sector partnerships that will:
• • Increase attainment of postsecondary degrees and credentials for different high school student, adult, and working learner populations by expanding access to resources, information, and data that promote successful outcomes; and
  • Align educational and workforce development credentials and fluid and flexible pathways with emerging employer needs to ensure all New Jerseyans have access to the essential skills and lifelong learning they need to navigate shifting labor markets and thrive in their communities.

The Future Ready New Jersey Coalition will develop and implement strategies in pursuit of a common 75 x 2040 educational attainment goal, creating an environment where all New Jerseyans have access to the postsecondary and workforce education they need to achieve economic mobility and secure family-sustaining wages, and where employers have access to the educated, skilled workforce they need. Together, we will help build vibrant communities and support broad-based prosperity for New Jersey.

For more information on the Future Ready New Jersey Coalition, please contact Maria Heidkamp, NJCCC’s Chief Innovation and Policy Officer, at mheidkamp@njcommunitycolleges.org.