SHRM E² White Paper Calls for Alignment Between Education and Workforce Needs

On Mar. 11, 2026, SHRM released its latest white paper, From Education to Employment: HR at the Helm Connecting Education, Skills, and Opportunity, highlighting a critical breakdown in the U.S. workforce pipeline. Developed as part of SHRM’s Education-to-Employment (E²) Initiative, the white paper finds that while opportunities exist, the system preparing workers for those roles is misaligned with employer needs. Nearly three in four organizations report difficulty finding candidates with the right skills, and many cite a lack of essential “power skills” such as communication, problem-solving, and adaptability.

In prior testimony, SHRM President and CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., described the system as a “leaky, broken, and busted” pipeline across K-12 education, higher education, and untapped talent — an assessment reflected throughout the white paper. Students often graduate without essential skills, higher education remains misaligned with workforce demand, and millions of capable individuals—including veterans, caregivers, and older workers—face barriers to employment.

SHRM calls for a more coordinated, skills-based approach to better connect education to work, including expanding career and technical education, strengthening work-based learning, and adopting skills-based hiring practices. HR leaders play a central role in aligning education pathways with workforce needs.

Ultimately, the white paper emphasizes that closing the skills gap will require systemic collaboration to build a more competitive and future-ready workforce.