Across the country, educators, employers, and policymakers are reimagining career pathways to better align education with the realities of today’s workforce. At the center of this transformation is a powerful shift: skills-first education. For those of us in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) space, this approach is both timely and essential.

Skills-first education values what learners can do over where they studied. It emphasizes real-world competencies, certifications, and applied experience—not just traditional degrees. By placing skills at the core, we can unlock opportunity for millions of learners, especially those served by community and technical colleges.

Why Skills-First Matters Now

Employers are facing persistent talent shortages while millions of capable workers remain underemployed. A recent report by the Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School found that while many companies are dropping four-year degree requirements, few have yet built the systems to evaluate and hire based on skills.

Skills-first education values what learners can do over where they studied. It emphasizes real-world competencies, certifications, and applied experience—not just traditional degrees.

That gap is where community colleges thrive. We specialize in stackable credentials, short-term certificates, (we call them embedded certs), and applied associate degrees that deliver market-aligned skills efficiently. When tied to fields like data analytics and AI, these credentials offer powerful pathways into high-demand careers—without the need for a four-year degree.

Putting Skills into Action: Data and AI at Sinclair

At Sinclair Community College, we embed skills-first principles throughout our data analytics and AI certificate programs. From introductory courses in data literacy to advanced applications of Python and machine learning, our curriculum is built around real-world competencies, not seat time.

Students develop portfolios of work that demonstrate skills in Excel, SQL, Python, workflows, visualization tools like Tableau, and SAS training. We collaborate closely with employers to ensure the relevance of our curriculum, and use that feedback to revise and adapt rapidly.

Through our applied learning model, students solve real community problems using data. They’re not just learning in the classroom—they’re generating impact and gaining experience that employers value.

HR’s Role in Skills-First Hiring

To make skills-first hiring a reality, employers and HR teams must go beyond removing degree requirements from job descriptions. They must implement systems to evaluate candidates based on verifiable skills and credentials.

Strategies include:

• Rewriting job descriptions to focus on specific skills, not just education levels.
• Using structured assessments and portfolios to evaluate capabilities.
• Recognizing trusted certificates and associate degrees as valid signals of readiness.
• Partnering with community colleges to co-create talent pipelines and credential pathways.

Studies from the Boston Consulting Group, World Economic Forum, and Opportunity@Work show that skills-based hires perform equally or better than traditional degree hires in both retention and productivity. They are also more diverse and representative of the broader U.S. workforce.

Equity Through Skills

The skills-first model levels the playing field for students from underrepresented and nontraditional backgrounds. It values lived experience, prior learning, and focused credentials—especially in fields like data and AI, where rapid upskilling can outpace traditional degree timelines. At Sinclair, many of our data and AI students are adult learners, veterans, and first-generation college students. Skills-first programs would give them the boost to transition into tech, analytics, and AI careers with confidence and clarity.

Moving Forward

As the workforce evolves, the education-to-employment pipeline must evolve with it. A critical part of this evolution is closing the gap on future of work skills—ensuring that learners are equipped with the digital, analytical, and human-centered capabilities needed in an AI-driven economy. Community colleges have a key role to play in helping employers adopt skills-first hiring practices and in delivering the in-demand data and AI skills learners need to succeed.

Let’s work together to build a world where skills matter more than pedigree, and where every capable learner has a clear path to opportunity.

Paul Hansford is a visionary Associate Professor in Data Analytics at Sinclair Community College with over 30 years of combined academic and industry experience. Celebrated for pioneering educational programs that blend theoretical knowledge with practical application, he champions skills-first learning and career-ready pathways. Specializing in data and soon artificial intelligence, he has enhanced student achievement and career outcomes, as reflected in increased enrollment and job placement rates. He actively engages in community partnerships and has secured significant research funding to advance Data Analytics and AI education.