Workforce Development

Who We Are

NASH's Office of Workforce Development helps higher education systems in NASH’s membership scale employer-aligned pathways, foster cross-sector collaboration, and progress social mobility for learners nationwide.

Why Systems, Why Now

As federal and state governments sharpen workforce priorities, employers shift toward skills-based hiring, and learners seek flexible, stackable credentials, systems are uniquely positioned to lead. Launched in February 2025, formerly Training Individuals for Economic Readiness (TIER), the Office equips NASH member systems with strategic capacity to connect higher education, workforce demand, and social mobility at a scale no single institution can achieve on its own.

What We Do

The Office of Workforce Development supports NASH member systems to seed, test, and scale workforce development initiatives through:

• System-Driven Workforce Strategy: Supporting systems in aligning education pathways with statewide and regional economic goals and workforce shortages. 

• Scalable Program Models: Expanding successful workforce development pilots across NASH member systems to ensure initiatives become systemic and sustainable.

• Strategic Cross‑Sector Partnerships: Connecting systems, employers, agencies, community organizations, and technology services to advance shared workforce development goals.
• Learner Success Support: Strengthening workforce programs to better serve learners facing the greatest barriers, with an emphasis on access, retention, and successful transitions into employment.

National Workforce and Industry Leadership: Coordinating a community of workforce development and industry leaders across NASH systems to support peer learning and exchange.