The healthcare industry is surging. It is the country’s fastest-growing industry and produces the highest demand for middle-skill jobs—positions that require some postsecondary training but not necessarily a four-year degree. Middle-skill jobs can mean higher wages, job satisfaction, and the next step on a career pathway for low-skilled workers in entry-level jobs. The healthcare industry is ideal for developing a pipeline to move lower-skilled workers into middle-skill jobs.

Lessons for building successful middle-skill job pipelines:

Be knowledgeable about health care employer needs: To encourage employer interest, potential partners need to know employers’ needs (e.g., qualified workers) and have a deep understanding of the current healthcare market.
Assess the relative advantages of different partners: While employers believe their role in developing middle-skill job pipelines is vital, many recognize that certain activities are better suited for other partners. Considering the relative advantages of partner roles should be part of developing a new initiative.
Take the time needed to build employer partnerships: Employers recognized that it takes time to make sure partners’ goals are aligned. The up-front time needed for planning and building trust should be built into expectations for partnership development.
Plan to measure outcomes: Measuring project success helps staff and employers make the case for and gain leadership buy-in, which can be an asset in garnering additional internal and external funding and sustaining the project in the long run.
Leverage funding: Small amounts of external funds can engage employers in pilot efforts to build employer trust and get initial results, leading to employer investments to sustain ongoing work. Funding an initiative developed by a current industry partnership or other intermediary with well-developed healthcare employer partnerships is a way to leverage funds for results.

Read the full article about building middle-class pipelines in health care by  Pamela J. Loprest, Amanda Briggs, Kelly S. Mikelson at Urban Institute.