Academia institutions and employers should collaborate to develop more effective job-specific career pathways, which would lead to more hires, greater advancement opportunities and increased prosperity to those not receiving traditional college degrees, according to a recent policy paper by McGraw-Hill Research Foundation.

The policy paper, "Portable, Stackable Credentials: A New Education Model for Industry-Specific Career Pathways," explains how employers and secondary and post-secondary educational institutions can tackle challenges in today's job market that requires more employees with mid- and high-level technical skills. This can be done by creating a structure of portable, stackable credentials, such as diplomas, certificates, certification, degrees, and licenses, and rooting them in transparent, navigable career directions. 

With these credentials, employers would be afforded a reliable way to hire and retain a skilled work force while also dictating a clear path for workers that shows how to build a sustainable career and create opportunities for advancement, the policy paper states.