The NC Workforce of Tomorrow: the Condition of Community College Students Today
<p>The students at community college today represent the workforce available tomorrow. If they are in trouble, it is a major red flag for CED professionals. CED professionals need to understand the world of community college students if they are to help them develop into the workforce in the next ten years, attracting business and investment ready to tap into its potential. A growing body of data suggest the students are deep in trouble. </p> <p>The community college system in North Carolina is a backbone for community development. They support CED efforts in all 100 counties through 58 individual community colleges, with targeted economic development efforts through programs such as the ApprenticeNC and Small Business Center. They serve over a half a million students of all ages and are considered a vital gateway to jobs.</p> <p>New data are emerging around one important indicator of economic condition of these soon-to-be-members-of-the-North-Carolina-workforce: food insecurity. Food security reflects access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. If someone does not have that access, they are considered food insecure. Food insecurity is such a basic indicator because it directly measures the ability of individuals and families to put healthy food on the table on a regular basis. Since food is flexible day to day, food security/insecurity is a real-time view on whether or not you can make ends meet, day in and day out—or does someone need to skip breakfast or lunch, worry about getting groceries for the kids at the end of the month, [...]</p>
