Progress in Action

Over 26 states have enacted executive orders and legislation to remove unnecessary degree requirements for public sector jobs, signaling a major shift toward skills-based hiring. But how has this shift impacted hiring outcomes for workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) and helped states address their workforce needs? This in-depth conversation explored the complementary findings of two recently published papers: “Tearing the Paper Ceiling: The Impact of State Commitments to Remove Degree Requirements on Public Awareness and Job Opportunities for STARs“ co-authored by leaders at Opportunity@Work and Dr. Peter Blair of Harvard University and “Empowering Progress: Harnessing Skills-Based Strategies to Drive Public Sector Excellence“ by the National Governors Association (NGA), in collaboration with Lightcast.

Experts from NGA, Lightcast, and Opportunity@Work discussed these new reports alongside representatives from Colorado and Ohio, two states that have pioneered implementing skills-first strategies. This conversation will provide you with actionable insights on how skills-based strategies can be operationalized to create a more inclusive and effective public sector workforce.

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Learning Objectives:

• Learn more about the progress and impact of policy changes to advance skills-based talent practices in the public sector
• Explore how states like Colorado and Ohio are helping lead the way in adopting skills-based strategies and overcoming challenges
• Gain practical steps to implement skills-first approaches in your organization

Speakers at this event:

• Jennie Cecere, Talent Pathways Team Manager, Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration
• Blair Corcoran de Castillo, Senior VP of Public Sector and Policy, Opportunity@Work
• Sytease Geib, Program Manager, Skills-Based Hiring, National Governor’s Association
• Kitty Hollingshead Mancil, State Talent Management Director, State of Ohio
• Melissa Walker, Statewide Workforce Solutions Director, Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration
• Matthew Walsh, Research Director, Lightcast

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Watch the webinar here: