Higher education is not disappearing. It is adapting under pressure from technology, demographics, economics, and changing workforce expectations. It also creates value beyond workforce preparation by developing critical thinkers, informed citizens, stronger communities, and future leaders capable of solving complex challenges.
For employers, educators, and regional leaders, the question is no longer whether higher education is relevant. The question is how institutions and industry can work together to build the workforce and communities the future demands.
That was a central theme during a recent Upstate Talent Forum discussion where education and workforce leaders explored how higher education is evolving to meet changing workforce needs.
While the national conversation around higher education has grown increasingly skeptical, leaders closest to talent development are seeing a more complex reality.
Confidence Is Down, but the Demand Signal Is Complicated
“More than 80% thought higher education was essential. That number is now less than 40%.”
One panelist cited Gallup data showing public confidence in higher education has dropped sharply over the last decade. Another questioned whether national perception fully reflects student experience, pointing to internal surveys showing significantly higher perceived value among current students.
CEO takeaway: Public sentiment may be softening, but the demand for skill development, credentialing, and workforce mobility is not disappearing. It is evolving.
Deeper Dive
An unusual new study of nearly a million students details what college does for earnings.
Harvard research found that fewer than 1 in 700 people are hired into many professional occupations without a college degree.
Talent Still Drives Economic Growth
“Talent is the number two priority for site selectors. If you’ve got the talent, you will attract the jobs.”
The panel reinforced a reality business leaders already understand: employers follow talent. Regions that can grow, attract, and retain talent become more competitive for investment and job creation. Panelists emphasized that industry and higher education must work together to build and support relevant programs.
CEO takeaway: Higher education relevance is not just philosophical. It is economic.
Adult Learners Represent One of the Largest Workforce Opportunities
The discussion highlighted the growing population of adults with “some college, no degree.” Nationally, that number exceeds 43 million people. In South Carolina alone, the opportunity is substantial.
This is not simply an education challenge. It is a workforce opportunity hiding in plain sight, including within existing employee populations.
CEO takeaway: One of the fastest ways to strengthen the workforce may not be waiting on traditional students. It may be re-engaging adults who already have workforce experience and partially completed education pathways.
The conversation at the Upstate Talent Forum suggested that higher education’s future may not be defined solely by traditional enrollment models. It may be shaped by how effectively institutions, employers, and communities work together to develop talent throughout a person’s career.
In Part Two, we’ll explore what workforce-aligned higher education looks like in practice and how employers can play a more active role in shaping the talent pipeline.
Higher education is not disappearing. It is adapting under pressure from technology, demographics, economics, and changing workforce expectations. It also creates value beyond workforce preparation by developing critical thinkers, informed citizens, stronger communities, and future leaders capable of solving complex challenges.
For employers, educators, and regional leaders, the question is no longer whether higher education is relevant. The question is how institutions and industry can work together to build the workforce and communities the future demands.
That was a central theme during a recent Upstate Talent Forum discussion where education and workforce leaders explored how higher education is evolving to meet changing workforce needs.
While the national conversation around higher education has grown increasingly skeptical, leaders closest to talent development are seeing a more complex reality.
Confidence Is Down, but the Demand Signal Is Complicated
“More than 80% thought higher education was essential. That number is now less than 40%.”
One panelist cited Gallup data showing public confidence in higher education has dropped sharply over the last decade. Another questioned whether national perception fully reflects student experience, pointing to internal surveys showing significantly higher perceived value among current students.
CEO takeaway: Public sentiment may be softening, but the demand for skill development, credentialing, and workforce mobility is not disappearing. It is evolving.
Deeper Dive
An unusual new study of nearly a million students details what college does for earnings.
Harvard research found that fewer than 1 in 700 people are hired into many professional occupations without a college degree.
Talent Still Drives Economic Growth
“Talent is the number two priority for site selectors. If you’ve got the talent, you will attract the jobs.”
The panel reinforced a reality business leaders already understand: employers follow talent. Regions that can grow, attract, and retain talent become more competitive for investment and job creation. Panelists emphasized that industry and higher education must work together to build and support relevant programs.
CEO takeaway: Higher education relevance is not just philosophical. It is economic.
Adult Learners Represent One of the Largest Workforce Opportunities
The discussion highlighted the growing population of adults with “some college, no degree.” Nationally, that number exceeds 43 million people. In South Carolina alone, the opportunity is substantial.
This is not simply an education challenge. It is a workforce opportunity hiding in plain sight, including within existing employee populations.
CEO takeaway: One of the fastest ways to strengthen the workforce may not be waiting on traditional students. It may be re-engaging adults who already have workforce experience and partially completed education pathways.
The conversation at the Upstate Talent Forum suggested that higher education’s future may not be defined solely by traditional enrollment models. It may be shaped by how effectively institutions, employers, and communities work together to develop talent throughout a person’s career.
In Part Two, we’ll explore what workforce-aligned higher education looks like in practice and how employers can play a more active role in shaping the talent pipeline.
AUTHOR
Johnathan Hooks