Career Pathways for a Productive and Self-Reliant Workforce: A To-Do List for Adult Educators

The adult basic education field in the United States is now being encouraged to shift to a "career pathways" orientation by policy research organizations, federal and state agencies, community college organizations, business groups, and private foundations. In such an approach, adult basic education programs work with workforce development ("One Stop") agencies, economic development initiatives, employers, labor unions, and social service agencies to organize the various entities into well-coordinated systems. These systems are meant to make it easier for lower-skilled adults and out-of-school youth to advance their education and careers as well as to provide employers with well-prepared and well-supported workers. Developing and sustaining career pathway systems requires particular kinds of partnership and curriculum development skills. Adult educators who are open to getting involved in career pathway initiatives should proceed in a smart way. In this article, the author outlines the steps they can take to (a) build on previous related work in adult education and other fields; (b) help lower-skilled adults be both productive and empowered workers; and (c) strengthen adult basic education as a profession.