Data and Technology in Action: Advancing Economic Mobility at Community Colleges

Abstract

Across the country, community colleges serve as critical engines of workforce development—partnering with regional employers, creating career pathways, and expanding opportunities for historically marginalized students. But as the labor market evolves and emerging technologies like generative AI reshape industries, how can these institutions ensure their students are prepared to thrive in the workforce? This volume explores how four diverse community colleges—Hudson County Community College (NJ), Community College of Aurora (CO), South Texas College (TX), and Riverland Community College (MN)—are using labor market information and student outcomes data, industry partnerships, and cutting-edge technology to help students access high-growth careers. Researchers Simba Gandari, Courtnei Sanders, Arnold Lopez and Ram Hernandez collaborated with the community colleges to conduct rigorous qualitative research over a period of five months. Nearly 150 individuals across the four regions—including college leaders, faculty, staff, students, employers, policymakers, and other experts—participated in interviews or focus groups to inform this work. The result is four detailed case studies, each of which highlights promising data and technology practices and other successful initiatives at the institution.