# Workforce Alignment, and the New Blueprint for Career-Connected Learning Ecosystems

By Darin Francis · Published 2026-02-23 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Education Technology on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/workforce-alignment-and-the-new-blueprint-for-career-connected-learning-ecosystems
Creator hub: signals in higher ed

> Workforce shortages, shifting federal and state policy, and rising skepticism about the return on investment of a traditional four-year degree have pushed career-connected learning to the forefront of education reform. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment is expected to increase by nearly 4.7 million jobs between 2022 and 2032, with…

## Key points

- U.S. employment is projected to grow by 4.7 million jobs between 2022 and 2032, creating urgency for workforce-aligned education pathways.
- Federal and state policy shifts are accelerating the move away from degree-centric credentialing toward competency and career-connected learning models.
- Institutions are being called to build ecosystems — not just programs — that meaningfully connect learners to employer needs and labor market outcomes.

Block Field

Workforce shortages, shifting [federal](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2025/10/06/ed-pushes-workforce-readiness-priority) and [state policy](https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/texas-legislation-expands-career-pathways-for-students), and rising skepticism about the [return on investment](https://hechingerreport.org/as-more-question-the-value-of-a-degree-colleges-fight-to-prove-their-return-on-investment/) of a traditional four-year degree have pushed career-connected learning to the forefront of education reform. According to the [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ecopro_09062023.pdf), overall employment is expected to increase by nearly 4.7 million jobs between 2022 and 2032, with millions of additional openings each year due to retirements and workers changing occupations. At the same time, many students graduate without clear pathways into stable careers, while employers struggle to build reliable talent pipelines. The stakes are economic, social, and generational.

So how do we connect young people to meaningful careers in a way that is scalable, equitable, and aligned with real workforce demand?

On this episode of [*Signals in Higher Ed*](https://marketscale.com/shows/signals-in-higher-ed/), host [Darin Francis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/darin-francis/) sits down with [Devyn Maguire](https://www.linkedin.com/in/devyn-maguire/), Chief Executive Officer of [Runwayz](https://www.runwayz.com/), to explore what it takes to build a next-generation ecosystem for career connections. The conversation spans K–12 education, employer partnerships, community colleges, and the technology infrastructure required to connect students ages 15 to 25 with real-world opportunities. Together, they examine how Runwayz is piloting a platform designed to connect students, schools, and employers in a scalable career-connected learning ecosystem—closing the gap between talent supply and workforce demand.

**The conversation delves into…**

- Why workforce shortages and policy shifts are accelerating the need for career-connected learning beyond the traditional college-only pathway.
- How Runwayz is building a three-sided marketplace connecting students, schools, and employers through localized ecosystem pilots.
- What it takes to make career exploration engaging and relevant for students—and why user experience and employer trust are critical to long-term success.

Devyn Maguire is the Chief Executive Officer of Runwayz and a Principal at Graham Cracker Innovations, where she specializes in strategic partnerships, go-to-market execution, and AI-driven growth initiatives within the education sector. With more than a decade of experience spanning K–12 classrooms, edtech startups, and enterprise customer success leadership at Packback, she has built and scaled partnerships that drive revenue growth, product adoption, and measurable institutional impact. Her expertise sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, workforce innovation, and education strategy, helping organizations align emerging technologies with sustainable business and learner outcomes.

*Article written by MarketScale.*

Tags: artificial intelligence, career pathways, career-connected learning, Devyn Maguire, employer partnerships, k-12 education, Runwayz, workforce development

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