The following is a statement from the Future Ready New Jersey Coalition, a cross-sector, action-focused coalition formed by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, dedicated to advancing broad-based economic mobility and prosperity in New Jersey:
Expanding Economic Mobility and Broad-Based Prosperity
BACKGROUND
In a time of rapid and complex technological, economic, and social change, building an equitable, prosperous, and future-ready New Jersey calls for a relentless focus on helping more New Jerseyans achieve postsecondary degrees and credentials that lead to genuine economic mobility and opportunity and that align with evolving employer skill needs. Postsecondary education is more critical than ever to accessing good jobs and career pathways with family-sustaining wages and, ultimately, to creating healthy, vibrant communities. New Jersey must prepare all residents for the technologies that are changing how we live, learn, and work. As data make clear, however, high quality academic and economic opportunities are not equally available to all New Jerseyans, with racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities persisting. Without concerted, collaborative, cross-sector action, the status quo will leave too many communities behind and make it impossible for our economy to remain competitive.
MISSION
Our mission is to unite across our sectors to build an equitable, prosperous, and future-ready New Jersey by helping more New Jerseyans achieve postsecondary degrees and credentials that lead to economic mobility and opportunity and by ensuring New Jersey employers have the educated, skilled workforce they need to thrive in the evolving economy.
VISION AND CORE BELIEF
Our vision is for a socially just and economically flourishing New Jersey, where equitable access to education and workforce training aligns with the needs of the labor market and prepares all New Jerseyans to achieve lasting economic security. Our core belief is that cross-sector collaboration of business, labor, social justice and community-based organizations, education, the workforce system, researchers, philanthropic and charitable organizations, and government, is necessary to create the environment for broad-based prosperity.
COMMITMENTS
The member organizations of the Future Ready Coalition commit to helping New Jersey adopt and pursue a new statewide educational attainment goal: for 75 percent of New Jersey adults in the labor market to have postsecondary degrees or credentials of value by 2040, defined as degrees and credentials that lead to jobs with pay that exceeds the national median earnings of a high school graduate by at least 15 percent. Through this commitment, the Coalition members will work together to contribute, as appropriate, to:
1) Developing shared strategic blueprints with actionable recommendations that help shape state policy and investments, including around the increase of short-term credentials.
2) Facilitating cross-sector partnerships that will:
• Increase attainment of postsecondary degrees and credentials for different high school student, adult, and working learner populations by expanding access to resources, information, and data that promote successful outcomes; and
• Align educational and workforce development credentials and fluid and flexible pathways with emerging employer needs to ensure all New Jerseyans have access to the essential skills and lifelong learning they need to navigate shifting labor markets and thrive in their communities.
The Future Ready New Jersey Coalition will develop and implement strategies in pursuit of a common 75 x 2040 educational attainment goal, creating an environment where all New Jerseyans have access to the postsecondary and workforce education they need to achieve economic mobility and secure family-sustaining wages, and where employers have access to the educated, skilled workforce they need. Together, we will help build vibrant communities and support broad-based prosperity for New Jersey.
FUTURE READY COALITION MEMBERS
African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
BioNJ
Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey
Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union of New Jersey
Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey
Garden State Employment and Training Association (GSETA)
Gathering Ground
Healthcare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ)
Hunger Free New Jersey
Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey
Junior Achievement of New Jersey
Latino Action Network Foundation
Mental Health Association in New Jersey
New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities
New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA)
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
New Jersey Council for the Humanities
New Jersey Council of County Colleges
New Jersey Council of Vocational Technical Schools
New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
New Jersey Library Association
New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association
New Jersey School Boards Association
New Jersey Small Business Development Centers
New Jersey State Library
New Jersey YMCA State Alliance
Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
United Way of Northern New Jersey
