Key points:
- Readiness is the new currency of work
- Changing how two-year colleges prepare students for the world of work
- Future proof your career: Human-centered majors in the AI era
- For more news on career readiness, visit eCN’s Teaching & Learning hub
A new survey from Instructure explores how prepared people feel in navigating today’s workforce, and examines the evolving role of higher education and upskilling in meeting new learner expectations and the demands of the future of work.
The State of Learning and Readiness report reveals both a challenge and a call to action. For colleges and universities, the findings highlight a growing need to support lifelong learners through flexible, workforce-aligned programs that connect education to real-world outcomes. While most workers report feeling unprepared, they also express a strong motivation to grow through training, acquire new credentials and pursue ongoing education beyond K-12.
Key findings include:
- 70 percent of U.S. workers feel unprepared to succeed in today’s workforce.
- 73 percent say they are unprepared to adapt to career changes or disruptions in the next five years.
- Among the 64 percent who plan to change jobs within two years, the top reasons include limited growth opportunities (23 percent) and the desire to gain new skills through education or upskilling (24 percent).
- 88 percent believe more training would help them advance, yet 50 percent are uncertain which skills and credentials employers truly value.
The data suggests a disconnect between the skills workers need and the paths available to acquire them. However, it also highlights an opportunity; people are eager to grow and view training and education as the keys to advancement.
“Workers are telling us they want to grow, but what they really need is direction. Their motivation is strong, but the paths to turn that into progress are still too fragmented,” said Melissa Loble, chief academic officer at Instructure. “When employers and educators come together, we can turn ambition into advancement and build a culture of lifelong learning that powers the future of work.”
Generational insights underscore the urgency: 87 percent of Gen Z workers feel unprepared to succeed in today’s workplace, higher than other generations (72 percent of millennials ages 18-28, 65 percent of Gen X ages 45-60 and 49 percent of baby boomers ages 61-79). While millennials (28 percent), Gen X (35 percent) and baby boomers (51 percent) report greater confidence in their preparedness to succeed in today’s workforce, Gen Z stands out for its eagerness to grow, interest in upskilling (85 percent) and a desire for connections between learning and opportunity. These findings highlight that a one-size-fits-all approach to readiness won’t work; each generation needs distinct resources to build the skills and adaptability to thrive in today’s workforce.
Through its comprehensive learning ecosystem, anchored by Canvas and strengthened by innovations like Canvas Career, a new product designed to address the growing workforce training needs, Instructure is helping bridge the gap between education and employment. By connecting learners, educators and employers through workforce-aligned credentials and flexible learning pathways, Instructure empowers individuals to advance their careers with confidence, no matter where they are on their journey.
The State of Learning and Readiness report makes one thing clear: Readiness is the new currency of work. While many workers feel unprepared, most see a clear path forward through ongoing learning and meaningful credentials. Real progress happens when higher education and industry work to transform ambition into advancement, connecting learning to real-world outcomes and preparing a workforce that’s confident, capable and future-ready.
This press release originally appeared online.
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