Catherine Frugé Starghill recalled the challenges faced when launching the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities initiative three years ago. She highlighted the primary goal: "To transform how we prepare learners for meaningful careers and how we connect employers to skilled talent." However, she noted a significant problem with the existing system, which was not adequately serving adult learners and was disconnected from industry needs.
In response, Starghill, vice president of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, said they aimed to build a new model. Reports from 1,800 partners involved in the program indicate that this new approach is gaining momentum.
Hundreds of these partners attended the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Summit in Atlantic City. The initiative aims to align education and training with employers' evolving needs through a partnership between the New Jersey Council of County Colleges and NJBIA.
NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs Elissa Frank emphasized the demand for skilled workers and praised county colleges as vital partners. "The work being done in the career pathways program is transformational," Frank stated.
During the summit's first hour, attendees learned about key achievements such as NJBioFutures, NJ Film Academy, and Digital Health programs designed to address workforce needs in various sectors.
Starghill added that pathway project teams have united colleges, employers, and associations to create job-focused education while removing barriers between different educational paths and opportunities.
A legislative bill could further institutionalize this initiative. Bill A-5211 has passed the Assembly, while its Senate counterpart S-4023 is progressing. Petra Gaskins, Chief of Staff for Sen. Joe Cryan, described it as "a commitment to building a smarter, fairer, and more connected workforce system."
Gaskins also noted that success now depends on creating a responsive talent ecosystem post-pandemic: "Talent is absolutely everywhere, but opportunity has not always been." She expressed optimism that codifying this bill would ensure opportunities across New Jersey.
