PASSHE Implements Strategies to Address Workforce Development Gap in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is actively working to address a significant workforce development gap in the state. According to Shelley Scherer, president and CEO of the PASSHE Foundation, the organization is expanding work-based learning opportunities and manufacturing apprenticeship programs at universities such as Slippery Rock, Indiana, and Pennsylvania Western. This initiative aims to align academic programs with workforce needs, as a state Department of Education study highlighted a shortage of qualified workers for 61,000 jobs requiring education beyond high school. By 2032, this gap is expected to widen, with 218,000 jobs lacking workers with the necessary postsecondary credentials. PASSHE's efforts include embedding real-work experiences like internships and apprenticeships into academic curricula, which are believed to lead to better job placements and higher earnings for graduates. 
