Employers Want to Train Workers but Are Swimming in Options

More employers are looking to offer new skills training for their employees as emerging technologies transform jobs, the Wall Street Journal notes. Some companies are moving beyond tuition repayment for undergraduate course work and grad school degrees to include shorter-term credentials. However, many are struggling to discern worthwhile programs from those that are a waste of money. U.S. workers now have access to more than 738,000 secondary and postsecondary degrees, certificates, badges, and other certifications, according to a 2019 report from Credential Engine, a nonprofit that aims to build a comprehensive registry of training options, along with data about their outcomes. Half of all credentials come from educational institutions. Nearly as many are things like digital badges and online course certificates from non-academic organizations.