Community colleges are essential in preparing the 21st century workforce. Research has indicated that there is a shortage of individuals prepared for skilled workforce opportunities, such as plumbers, electricians, and many others. In fact, while college is essential in workforce development, it is not the only route that can lead to a successful livelihood. Developing a skill that transfers into an essential trade is a route less taken. Community colleges are ideally situated to respond to the shortage of a prepared workforce by providing an array of programs that reach a wide range of individuals with talents that may not include a college degree. Community Colleges and Workforce Preparation in the 21st Century: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a comprehensive reference source that covers the essential role of community colleges in developing a skilled workforce via varying educational opportunities that include degree completion, workforce development, and skill enhancement. Readers will benefit from the book’s ability to advocate for the need for individuals with skillful trade options, provide different areas to consider as trade options, discuss the role of community colleges in preparing a workforce, examine the challenges that can arise for individuals with a trade, and present a global outlook on the workforce of the 21st century. Covering topics that include career pathways and STEM programs, the book is especially valuable for academic institutions that are looking to provide options for talent expansion. Leadership and education scholars, leadership practitioners within community college and university settings, leaders within workforce development sectors, researchers, and students will also find this reference useful for developing a skilled and competent workforce.

"This book covers the essential role of community colleges in developing a skilled workforce via varying educational opportunities that include, degree completion, workforce development, and skill enhancement"--

A roadmap for how we can rebuild America's working class by transforming workforce education and training. The American dream promised that if you worked hard, you could move up, with well-paying working-class jobs providing a gateway to an ever-growing middle class. Today, however, we have increasing inequality, not economic convergence. Technological advances are putting quality jobs out of reach for workers who lack the proper skills and training. In Workforce Education, William Bonvillian and Sanjay Sarma offer a roadmap for rebuilding America's working class. They argue that we need to train more workers more quickly, and they describe innovative methods of workforce education that are being developed across the country.

The book begins with the premise that workforce education is a global issue and is becoming increasingly competitive. It is important for the reader to understand the concept of work historically, as well as its meaning and implications to individuals. Understanding this history leads to better instruction, education, and training, which can solve many human performance problems in the workplace. Workforce Education, Occupational, Training, Instruction or Career Education, Voca-tional Education or Technical Education is used interchangeably throughout this book. The concept of today’s workforce development is universal. As a college professor, I believe I have an ethical obligation to promote learning, to ensure health and safety, to protect the public and private trust, and to promote the transfer of learning. A second premise of this book is that there are common issues and problems in the workplace. This book provides, in a single volume, the knowledge base common to all work settings for today’s students, regardless of their specialty. Thus, the book was designed for students to think globally and to understand how to be and what it takes to be competitive in the global economy.

The Community College Labor Market Responsiveness (CCLMR) Initiative was created to develop and disseminate information and tools enabling community colleges to keep pace with the needs of a diverse student body and a dynamic labour market. This report draws upon profiles (Appendix B) and statistical evidence (Appendix C) to describe the factors that affect labour-market responsiveness. First, it examines the effects of the external environment, the characteristics of local residents and the nature of the local economy. Second, it examines the effects of the external organisational structure, the state and local community workforce, education, and economic development infrastructure. Third, it examines colleges' external governance structures, which affect their mission, resource base, and flexibility. Finally, it examines the effects of factors under the college's control, presidential leadership, internal organisation, strategic planning to design and fund programs, use of data, and programmatic base. Each stage in the progression has strong, if not decisive, effects on the successive stage, and ultimately on each college's potential to be market-responsive, and the nature of the obstacles that need to be overcome to realise its potential. The progression is emphasised to make it clear that more should be expected of colleges located in environments that are favourable to development of labour-market responsive programs than where external conditions are unfavourable, not that colleges in favourable environments should complacently compare themselves to colleges in less favourable environments. This emphasis also helps clarify what colleges can do regardless of their external environment to overcome obstacles to become more responsive and reach their own unique potential.

In an effort to create a more educated workforce in the United States, many community colleges are implementing the use of advisory groups to assist under-prepared students. These efforts will ultimately support a stronger and more resilient global workforce. The Role of Advisory Committees in Biomedical Education and Workforce Development: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a pivotal reference source for the latest research findings on the development of advisory committees in biomedical education, workforce development, and the guiding principles that result in successful research and opportunities. Featuring extensive coverage on relevant areas such as workforce education programs, collaborative decision-making, and skillset training, this publication is an ideal resource for academics, researchers, graduate-level students, committee development officers, business professionals, administrators, and workforce education specialists.