Credentials Matter

In 2019, not a single state had its industry credentials “highly aligned” with the job market, while more than 20 states didn’t collect the data needed to tell whether they were aligned with what employers wanted or not. In 2020, the nation’s job credentials are still largely out of alignment with what employers want, but more states are now collecting data on the attainment of credentials, according to the latest research by ExcelinEd and Burning Glass Technologies.

The Credentials Matter reports are the result of an ongoing research partnership designed to shed light to provide new insights into the alignment between the credentials high school students earn and the demand for those credentials in the workforce. The project is intended to inform key policy decisions about which career pathways and associated credentials lead to middle and high wage employment opportunities and continued advancement for students.

Key findings include:

• 33 states are now collecting quantitative data on the attainment of credentials.
• Of the 30 states where data was made available, no state is highly aligned in terms of supply of credentials earned by high school students and demand for those credentials in the job market.
• States do not have consistent definitions for what constitutes an industry-recognized credential—even though high school students earn hundreds of thousands of credentials each year.
• Many credentials are not explicitly requested in employer job listings, despite the fact that the credentials may be required or desired for the position.

The companion Credentials Matter website allows policymakers to review state-by-state data on credential alignment, where data is available.