Rethinking Work, Education, and the Future
By Sherazade Langlade, CEO, WPTI
A recent report, The Rising Storm by Lightcast, outlines tectonic shifts in the workforce. Its insights are a wake-up call: We are not ready. The way we approach education, employment, and workforce preparation must evolve—quickly.
The Traditional Path to Employment Needs a Radical Shift
For too long, society has prioritized higher education as the primary path to career success. Yet, the fastest-growing job sectors do not require a degree. We need work-based learning, early industry exposure, and skills-first career paths.
The shift toward skills-based hiring is gaining traction, yet implementation remains slow. Many job seekers are left wondering: Do I need a degree? Will it be worth it? We’re in a messy, transitional phase—one that disproportionately impacts those with fewer resources to “get it right.”
At WPTI, we are helping the workforce development sector shift toward a skills-based labor market. What does this mean for training and employer engagement? How do we ensure workers stay competitive? These are the questions we are addressing.
From Career Pathways to Career Branches
Many industries require new, flexible career models, where workers can pivot based on acquired skills, industry needs, and life circumstances. For decades, job roles have been defined by rigid functional responsibilities, aligning nicely to the Career Pathways model. The traditional career pathways model assumes that workers progress step by step in a straight line, but in reality, career growth is not always linear. Each step in a pathway must be assessed based on the requirements, time, and costs needed to move to the next level. With technological advancements, it’s time to rethink job structures. Automation and AI can streamline repetitive tasks, allowing human workers to focus on higher-value, people-centric aspects of their roles.
Workforce development must embed a sense of curiosity and career ownership to help workers proactively design their futures. As industries evolve, we must equip individuals with the mindset and resources needed to adapt and thrive.
At WPTI, we are increasingly thinking in terms of Career Branches—a model that provides workers with multiple options for where they can grow their careers instead of forcing them into a one-size-fits-all progression.
AI Is a Tool, Not a Replacement
Artificial intelligence is transforming industries—but it cannot replace human connection, care, and intuition. Workforce development must integrate AI strategically and ethically, ensuring it enhances efficiency without compromising human-centered work.
At WPTI, we are developing AI resource guides and best practices to help workforce professionals integrate AI responsibly. Read more about our AI Strategy here.
The Future of Workforce Development? Tech-Forward and Human-First.
We must not forget that workforce development needs workforce development. The shifts in the broader labor market are also occurring in workforce development, and we have opportunities to redesign job roles, program design, and metrics of success. Most of all, the field will require ALL of us to continue reskilling and upskilling—just like every other worker and industry.
Final Thoughts
The Rising Storm report makes it clear—our current approach to work and education needs to change. The future demands:
Flexible, skill-based pathways to employment
An embrace of foreign-born talent
A strategic approach to AI adoption
A rethinking of career progression
As we navigate these shifts, we must challenge outdated mindsets and redesign systems that truly support workers, industries, and communities.
At WPTI, we are committed to supporting this transition through:
AI initiatives and workforce resource guides contextualized to the workforce development sector
A focus on skills-based occupations that do not require a college degree
A Career Branches approach that will encourage lifelong learning and career ownership