How Can Non-Degree Credentials Help Diverse Students in a Recession?

Dr. Mark Mitsui, president of Portland Community College pointed out that Black, Latinx and indigenous workers are the most likely to experience income loss during the pandemic, and people with a high school degree or lower make up 56% of unemployment claims, while only comprising about 28% of the workforce. A study in Ohio – conducted by Dr. Lindsay Daugherty, policy researcher at RAND Corporation – found that while underrepresented students enrolled in certificate programs at the same or higher rates as other students, Black students and adult learners were less likely to stack their credentials, gaining more skills after their first certificate which could lead to better-paying jobs. #education #racialequity