RALEIGH, N.C. (July 21, 2026) — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal today released a new policy brief, Aligning Education with Work: Why Employer Partnerships Are the Key to Effective Workforce Education in North Carolina, calling on state policymakers to strengthen partnerships between employers and institutions of higher education to better align academic programs with workforce needs.
The brief argues that persistent labor shortages, rapid technological change, and demographic shifts have created a growing mismatch between the skills employers need and the graduates colleges produce. It offers practical policy recommendations to help North Carolina build a stronger workforce while improving outcomes for students and taxpayers.
“North Carolina is lucky to have a growing, vibrant economy,” said Dr. Jenna A. Robinson, president of the Martin Center. “We need workforce policies that can keep up with it.”
Among the report’s highlights:
- 62 percent of North Carolina employers report difficulty hiring qualified workers.
- The UNC System reports significant workforce shortages in fields including business, engineering, education, computer science, and health professions.
- Students who complete internships are 49 percent less likely to be underemployed after graduation.
- North Carolina apprenticeship participants are 13 percent more likelyto be employed and earn higher wages a decade after completing their programs.
- To address these challenges, the brief recommends:
- Expanding incentives for employer-higher education partnerships through funding and performance-based policies.
- Increasing transparency by reporting program-level employment and earnings outcomes.
- Reducing regulatory barriers and providing greater flexibility for employer-aligned academic programs.
- Expanding work-based learning opportunities, including apprenticeships, internships, and employer-sponsored training.
- Encouraging Congress to codify federal guidance permitting revenue-sharing partnerships between employers and institutions of higher education.
The report also highlights successful North Carolina models—including the Carolina Battery Institute, Wake Tech’s BioMechatronics Apprenticeship, NC BioImpact, and employer tuition assistance programs—as examples of how employer partnerships can strengthen talent pipelines while improving educational outcomes.
The full brief, Aligning Education with Work: Why Employer Partnerships Are the Key to Effective Workforce Education in North Carolina, is available HERE.