Connecticut Launches Career Pathways Commission

0:00Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont just launched the Career Pathways Commission to grow the state's workforce by linking young people to high demand jobs. He signed the executive order on Thursday putting former U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in charge. The group pulls in unpaid volunteers from schools, colleges, businesses, labor, cities, lawmakers, and even students. The Commission's big push is a five-year plan, hitting four main spots, building career paths, boosting industry credentials for students, setting up, work-based learning with employers, and fixing policies and funding to make it all stick. They're aiming to drop a full report with recommendations by December 31st. Lamont tapped Cardona because of his deep roots in Connecticut Education. He was the state commissioner, a school admin, and a teacher in Meriden. Business leaders like those at the Connecticut Business and Industry Association cheered the move with their president joining the team. Cardona wants to spread pockets of success statewide, so great opportunities become the

1:04norm. A fresh report from the business group backs this up, showing nearly 70,000 open jobs now amid a shrinking workforce. But good news, employment should jump through 2032, with over 55% of new roles in fields like health care, manufacturing, hospitality, and transport that don't need a four-year degree. This lines up everyone from classrooms to companies around shared goals, prepping folks for tomorrow's work while boosting the economy. When students level up, the whole state wins. Powered by AI, this is Hartford News Today.