As employers struggle to fill critical jobs, community colleges are responding with flexible training that connects students to careers more quickly.
In a recent article from Governing, a growing shortage of skilled workers is slowing economic growth nationwide, with 71 percent of employers saying they cannot find the talent they need. Community colleges are stepping up to address this challenge by offering faster, more flexible training models that better match the realities of today’s students and workforce.
According to Governing, since 2020, more than 100 community colleges across 21 states have developed “micro-pathways” with support from the nonprofit Education Design Lab. These short, stackable courses, sometimes as brief as 10 to 15 hours, allow learners to quickly earn credentials that lead to jobs at or above local median wages. Students can then continue stacking credits toward higher-paying roles and eventual degrees, all while gaining work experience.
The Colorado Community College System launched a behavioral health micro-pathway that enrolled more than 750 students in its first year, helping meet urgent workforce needs while providing residents with a quicker route into steady, well-paying jobs. Other sectors exploring micro-pathways include manufacturing, IT, construction, aerospace, and clean tech.
From the article:
Within weeks or months, students can attain a certification that opens the door to an entry-level job as a behavioral health assistant, addiction recovery assistant or patient navigator.
The original kind of pathway [for behavioral health professionals] was going straight into a master’s degree, having a pretty large amount of debt, studying for eight years before you would see a patient or a client, said Michael Macklin, who leads workforce development efforts in the Colorado system.
This approach is especially valuable for an increasing number of college students who are also working adults, parents, and balancing family or job responsibilities. With upcoming federal changes set to extend Pell Grants to short-term training programs in 2026, as well as state and employer investments, these programs could dramatically expand access to affordable, career-focused education.
Where workforce shortages in fields like health care, construction, and public safety remain pressing concerns, micro-pathways represent a promising tool to build stronger local economies and provide residents with more accessible paths to rewarding careers.
