Excelencia’s Policy Agenda: Workforce

Overview

Latinos are one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in the United States and will play a critical role in the nation’s workforce, economic competitiveness, and civic future. Institutions serving Latino students, particularly Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), are essential to preparing students for careers in an evolving economy increasingly shaped by technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and growing workforce demands. To support Latino, and all, students’ educational pursuits and maximize their contributions to the workforce and economy, higher education has a responsibility to connect students with career-aligned learning opportunities and meet the needs of the competitive workforce. We prioritize: 

• Expanding Work-Based Learning: Strengthening partnerships between colleges and employers to align learning with workforce needs through hands-on experiences, internships, apprenticeships, and career-ready credentials that lead to high-quality jobs with economic mobility.

• Creating Clear Pathways to Workforce Success: Ensuring connectivity between educational programs and careers so students leave higher education with credentials that translate to job opportunities and economic advancement.

• Advancing Workforce Readiness Through AI and Digital Innovation: Supporting institutions in responsibly integrating AI literacy and emerging technologies into teaching, learning, advising, and workforce preparation to ensure Latino, and all, students are prepared for an evolving economy.

How can federal and state policy ensure access to excellence by aligning higher education and economic opportunity?

• Support work-based learning opportunities for students by leveraging existing federal programs, such as Federal Work-Study.

• Make workforce development an allowable activity for federal Title V grants to support institutions in creating workforce programs.

• Incentivize engagement between employers and the institutions serving Latino, and, all students. 

• Create targeted funding to prepare students and graduates in using AI and workforce readiness.