News and Insights

The U.S. economy is changing fast, shaped by new technologies, shifting demographics, and the rise of fields like AI. As skill demands evolve faster than traditional education and workforce systems can keep up, more learners are turning to short-term credentials that promise quicker pathways to jobs. But rapid growth has also brought confusion. The real question is no longer whether these credentials belong, but how states, colleges, and employers can identify which ones truly deliver value—and invest with confidence.

AI is not eliminating work. It is transforming every job, reshaping roles and skills at a speed most organizations are still trying to comprehend. With more than 150 million workers likely to require some level of AI upskilling in the coming years according to leaders at the event, the central challenge is not displacement: it is readiness.

Work-integrated learning is emerging as essential infrastructure for preparing talent, and leaders at BHEF’s 2025 Fall Convening highlighted how apprenticeships, internships, and real-world projects are helping students meet the pace of today’s evolving workplace.