Administrative data on employment and earnings, commonly referred to as wage data or wage records, can be used to assess the labor market outcomes of workforce, education, and other programs, providing policymakers, administrators, researchers, and the public with valuable information. However, there is no single readily accessible federal source…

Many states include non-degree credentials (such as certificates, industry certifications, or licenses) within their statewide educational attainment goal. These goals set targets for the percentage of residents with a postsecondary credential. In order to measure progress towards educational attainment goals, states must collect data about each…

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry (MTDLI) recently published a statewide college report entitled "Meeting State Worker Demand: A Report on the Labor Market Outcomes for Montana Colleges," in collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE). The report seeks to determine if there are enough students…

Most states now have a statewide credential attainment goal, which sets targets for the number of residents with a postsecondary credential. These goals can help states to increase the educational levels of the adult population and address the workforce needs of the state. Unfortunately, many states may lack the capability to measure progress…

Employers are demanding higher skilled and better educated workers. Yet employer sentiment and the high default rate on student loans suggests a mismatch between the programs students are completing and the work they are able to find. To report on trends in postsecondary education, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) mostly relies on surveys of…