New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report 2021, SCHEV (February 2022)
Summary
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia's New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report for FY 2021, dated February 2022, provided to the General Assembly and the Virginia Board for Workforce Development as outlined in § 23.1-627.7 of the Code of Virginia. It describes a pay-for-performance model for funding noncredit workforce training that leads to a credential in a high-demand field. The report states that institutions offered training in nine high-demand occupational fields and reported 8,904 enrollments, a 19% increase from FY 2020, of which 8,591 (96%) completed training. Its section headings give the average student cost as $766 and the average state cost per credential attained as $1,848.
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“New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report 2021, SCHEV (February 2022).”
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State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
New Economy Workforce
Credential Grant
Annual Report 2021
February 2022
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Table of Contents
Purpose of This Report ............................................................................................................ 1
Summary of Findings for FY 2021 ......................................................................................... 1
Program Purpose ...................................................................................................................... 2
Program Requirements and Pay-for-Performance Model ................................................. 2
High-demand Field and Training Alignment Process ............................................................ 4
Identification of High-Demand Fields .................................................................................. 4
Training Programs Offered by Eligible Institutions ............................................................ 4
Enrollment, Training and Credential Completions and Costs ............................................... 6
Training Offered in Nine High-Demand Occupational Fields .......................................... 6
The Average Student Cost of the Program was $766. The Average State Cost per
Credential Attained was $1,848.............................................................................................. 7
Top Training Programs and Alignment to Annual Job Openings .................................... 7
Training Completion Rates Averaged 96% and Credential Completion Rates
Averaged 72% ........................................................................................................................... 9
Participation and Completion Rates by Institution ............................................................. 9
Student Demographics .......................................................................................................... 11
Enrollment ............................................................................................................................... 11
Success ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Earnings Outcomes ................................................................................................................ 13
Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 13
Earnings Analysis ................................................................................................................... 13
Median Wages Increased in all Occupational Fields ........................................................ 14
Wages by Race & Ethnicity ................................................................................................... 16
Wage Increase by Income Range ......................................................................................... 16
Additional Observations and Next Steps .............................................................................. 18
Appendix: FY 2021 Training Credential Enrollment, Completions and Costs ................... 19
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT
During the 2016 session, the General Assembly and Governor established the New Economy
Workforce Grant Program. This grant program, the first of its kind in the nation, provides a
pay-for-performance model for funding noncredit workforce training that leads to a
credential in a high-demand field. The program also includes requirements for students to
complete the program in order to avoid paying additional costs. A summary of the major
components of the program is included below. Additional information is available through
the Code of Virginia.
The purpose of this report is to provide an annual review of FY 2021 activities of the New
Economy Workforce Credential Grant to the General Assembly and the Virginia Board for
Workforce Development as outlined in § 23.1-627.7 of the Code of Virginia.
Summary of Findings for FY 2021
In FY 2021, the Virginia Community College System and the Southern Virginia Higher
Education Center offered training aligned to high-demand occupations and fields as
identified by the Virginia Board for Workforce Development. Observations from the training
program’s first year of implementation show that:
Institutions offered training in nine high-demand occupational fields.
Collectively, these institutions reported 8,904 enrollments, a 19% increase from FY
2020 and the most since the inception of the program.
Of the 8,904 enrollments included in this report, 8,591 (96%) completed training.
Among program completers, 6,151 (72%) went on to earn the credential.
While gaps in program completion by race/ethnicity appeared to have closed, gaps in
credential completion remain: Black or African American students were nine points
less likely to earn their program’s credential compared to white students. Hispanic
students were four points less likely.
The average student cost of the program was $766, an $89 increase from FY 2020. The
average state cost per credential attained was $1,848, a $221 increase from FY 2020.
The program with the highest enrollments was Commercial Driver’s License (class A)
with over 18% of enrollments. Highway Construction Programs had the second
highest enrollments accounting for 13% of all enrollments in FY 2021.
Most students who earned their credential saw an increase in earnings. Median annual
wages increased approximately $7,000 or 31%.
Students in the bottom quartile (with wages less than $8,200 before completing their
credential) saw the highest median wage increase.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Program Purpose
The Governor and the General Assembly outlined three primary purposes of program based
on the requirements outlined in § 23.1-627.2. of the Code of Virginia:
The New Economy Workforce Credential Grant is established for the purpose of (i) creating
and sustaining a demand-driven supply of credentialed workers for high-demand occupations
in the Commonwealth by addressing and closing the gap between the skills needed by workers
in the Commonwealth and the skills of the available workforce in the Commonwealth; (ii)
expanding the affordability of workforce training and credentialing; and (iii) increasing the
interest of current and future Virginia workers in technician, technologist, and trade-level
positions to fill the available and emerging jobs in the Commonwealth that require less than a
bachelor's degree but more than a high school diploma.
The program also defines two key elements:
High-demand field: a “discipline or field in which there is a shortage of skilled workers
to fill current job vacancies or anticipated additional job openings.”
Noncredit workforce credential: a “competency-based, industry-recognized,
portable, and third-party-validated certification or occupational license in a
high-demand field.”
Program Requirements and Pay-for-Performance Model
The program focuses on a pay-for-performance model that provides payments for costs to
institutions only when an individual completes training and when an individual completes
a credential.
The following is a brief overview of the program requirements.
Eligible institutions and type of training: Eligible institutions are community colleges,
higher education centers and Richard Bland College. The type of training those
institutions are required to offer is noncredit training.
Alignment to high-demand fields: Training programs should align with the high-demand
fields set by the Virginia Board for Workforce Development. Boards of eligible
institutions are required to approve the aligned training programs.
Funding:
Fiscal Year Amount
2017 $5 million
2018 $7.5 million
2019 $9.5 million
2020 $13.5 million
2021 $13.5 million
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Payments and cost of the program: The student, the institution and the state, as described
below, share the program’s cost. In addition, the table below illustrates the pay-for-
performance model.
o Student responsibility: Students are required to pay one-third of the total cost
of the program upon enrollment. Students may use third-party funds, such as
noncredit financial aid, training vouchers or employer payment to cover this
cost. If the student does not complete the program, then the student is required
to pay an additional one-third of the cost of the program.
o State: If the student completes the training, then the state provides one-third of
the cost of the program, up to $1,500, to the institution. If the student earns and
reports a credential, then the state pays an additional one-third of the cost of
the program, up to $1,500.
o Institution: If a student does not report a credential earned, then the institution
does not receive state funding for one-third of the cost of the program.
Reporting and payments: Eligible institutions must provide student-level data to SCHEV
to receive funding.
Administration: SCHEV is responsible for administering the program, conducting
periodic assessments of the program, collecting student data and making final
decisions on disputes between eligible institutions and grant recipients.
Table 1: Program Pay-for-Performance Model
State Pays Training
Payment Scenario if a student… Student Pays ...
Institution...*
… Completed training and credential 1/3 program cost 2/3 program cost*
… Completed training but did not earn
1/3 program cost 1/3 program cost*
or report credential to the training institution
… Did not complete training and did not
2/3 program cost No cost
earn or report a credential
*Maximum contribution is $3,000 from the state.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
HIGH-DEMAND FIELD AND TRAINING ALIGNMENT PROCESS
Identification of High-Demand Fields
The Code requires that the Virginia Board for Workforce Development identify high-demand
occupational fields. In 2017, the Virginia Board for Workforce Development developed a
methodology to identify high-demand programs, using the following criteria:
The relevance of the occupational group to the state’s economic development strategy
as outlined in Governor McAuliffe’s New Virginia Economy strategy document.
Annual statewide job openings, based on Virginia Employment Commission/Bureau
of Labor Statistics 10-year employment projections. Jobs were considered if they had
more than 50 annual openings.
The degree to which the occupations require advanced skills as measured by entry-
level education.
The board also allows a petition process for regions to request adding an occupational field to
the list if the region can demonstrate sufficient demand. A complete list of training programs
offered is on the Virginia Career Works website.
Based on a review of the occupations meeting the criteria above, the Virginia Board for
Workforce Development identified high-demand occupations in 11 fields.
Training Programs Offered by Eligible Institutions
Once the Virginia Board for Workforce Development identifies the high-demand fields, the
eligible institutions develop or align existing noncredit training programs to meet the new
credential criteria and their boards approve the programs. To date, the Virginia Community
College System and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center and the New College
Institute are the only eligible training institutions offering programs in the high-demand
fields.
The boards of the institutions submit their approved lists to the Virginia Board for Workforce
Development. A full list of high-demand occupations and aligned training programs offered
by eligible training institutions is maintained and updated on the Career Works website.
Table 2 is a sample list by occupational field of the types of training and credentials students
could attain upon completion. A full list of credentials by type is in the Appendix.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Table 2: Sample Workforce Training and Certifications Offered by Occupational Field
Occupational Field (Occupation Number) Sample Workforce Training/Certification Offered
CompTIA A+, Network+ and Server+
Computer and Mathematical (15) Computer Entry Level (CISCO Networking Technician and
Associate, CompTIA IT Fundamentals); Information Systems
Security Project Management Professional
Construction (Project Management, Carpentry, Contractor's
Construction and Extraction (47) License), Plumbing and Electrical, Highway Construction,
Welding
Education, Training and
Career Switcher/Teaching License
Library (25)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical (29) Emergency Medical, Pharmacy, EKG Technician
Certified Nurse Aide, Medical Assistant, Medication Aide,
Healthcare Support (31)
Phlebotomy Technician
Electrical and Electrical Systems, Engine Repair, HVAC,
Installation, Maintenance and Repair (49)
Power Line Worker
Billing and Coding Specialist, Customer Services and Sales,
Office and Administrative Support (43) Medical Administrative Assistant, Professional Coder, Society
for Human Resource Management Certified Professional
Backflow Prevention, Electronics Assembly (JSTD-001
Certification), Machine Tool Operations, Manufacturing
Technician 1 (MT1), Manufacturing Entry Level (specialist and
Production (51)
production technician), Mechatronics, Six Sigma, Millwright
(industrial machine installation, maintenance, troubleshooting
and repair), Welding (flux, gas and general)
Commercial Driver's License, Logistics Associate, Logistics
Transportation and Material Moving (53)
Technician, Remote Pilot Airman Certification
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
ENROLLMENT, TRAINING AND CREDENTIAL COMPLETIONS AND COSTS
In FY 2021, 8,904 individuals were enrolled in training and 8,591 (96%) completed training.
Among program completers, 6,151 (72%) went on to earn the credential. FY 2021 data are
based on all students completing a training course between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
Eligible institutions are allowed up to 180 days after the completion of training to obtain
verification that a student earned a credential. Training institutions may verify this
information either through receiving information from a student or through a record match
with the entity issuing the credential.
During the history of the program, nearly 32,821 students have enrolled, 31,033 completed
the program, and 23,025 have earned their credential or license. FY 2021 saw a record number
of students enrolled, completing the program, and earning their credential or license. The
growth of the program is notable as enrollments in for-credit academic programs at Virginia
Community Colleges have declined in recent years.
Table 3: Workforce Credential Grant Enrollments, Program Completions, and Credentials, History
of the Program
Fiscal Year Enrollments Completed Training Earned Credential
2017 5,206 4,957 3,465
2018 4,299 3,997 3,075
2019 6,935 6,552 5,038
2020 7,477 6,936 5,296
2021 8,904 8,591 6,151
Grand Total 32,821 31,033 23,025
The following section provides data for FY 2021 by occupational field, credential type and
institution.
Training Offered in Nine High-Demand Occupational Fields
Construction, production, healthcare support and transportation had the highest number of
enrollments, accounting for three-quarters of the program. Table 4 summarizes enrollments,
completions, reported credentials, average costs to students, total payments by the state and
average costs to the state per credential attained, by occupational field.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Table 4: FY 2021 Data on Enrollment, Training Completion and Reported Credentials by Occupational Field
Average State
Reported a Total State Payments for
Completed Average Cost Payments per
Occupational Field Enrolled Credential Training and Credential
Training to Student* Credential
Attained Completion*
Attained
Computer and 829 823 214 $691 $706,267 $3,300
Mathematical
Construction and 1,912 1,883 1,531 $284 $997,427 $651
Extraction
Education, Training and 99 94 90 $1,330 $244,720 $2,719
Library
Healthcare
Practitioners 444 408 163 $563 $324,601 $1,991
and Technical
Healthcare Support 1,137 1,098 805 $861 $1,637,991 $2,035
Installation, Maintenance 821 800 617 $843 $1,244,107 $2,016
and Repair
Office and Administrative 587 538 383 $849 $777,904 $2,031
Support
Production 1,089 1,078 851 $573 $1,104,411 $1,298
Transportation and 1,986 1,869 1,497 $1,274 $4,327,647 $2,891
Material Moving
All 8,904 8,591 6,151 $766 $11,365,075 $1,848
*Average costs per student are based on the charges of 1/3 of the cost of the program if the student completes training.
Total state payments do not equal the allocation for FY 2021 of $13.5 million due to how funds are obligated when a student enrolls.
Payments are made at the time the training or credential completion are submitted to SCHEV.
The Average Student Cost of the Program was $766. The Average State Cost
per Credential Attained was $1,848.
As shown in Table 4, the average cost of the program to a student (reflecting 1/3 of the cost)
was $766. SCHEV provided reimbursements to institutions through state general fund in the
amount of $11.3 million for training completions and credentials. This figure is lower than
the general fund appropriation for FY 2021 due to the pay-for-performance model where
funds are obligated when a student enrolls, but are paid when an institution submits
reimbursement upon completion of training and earning of a credential.
Based on the attainment data and the total payments through state general fund, the average
state payment per credential attained in FY 2021 was $1,848 (total payments/credentials
attained).
Top Training Programs and Alignment to Annual Job Openings
While many certifications are offered, nearly three-quarters of students enrolled in the top 10
program clusters. Of the over 50 programs offered, four programs accounted for nearly half
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
of enrollments: Commercial Drivers’ License, Medical Assistant, Highway Construction, and
Entry level computer programs.
This analysis de-duplicates individual records, so that one student pursuing multiple road
construction certifications, for example, is not counted twice, as that individual would
theoretically take up a single job opening.
In comparing enrollments in these programs to the annual job openings provided by the
Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), the certifications appear to meet an annual need.
For example, VEC projects annual openings for truck drivers to be about 5,819. In FY 2021,
about 1,493 individuals enrolled in the credential program to attain a commercial driver’s
license. Similarly, VEC projects annual openings for nursing assistants to be 5,484, but only
198 students enrolled in Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) programs.
The difference between the annual openings and enrollments does not necessarily indicate a
shortage, as training programs offered by private providers are not included in this analysis.
At the same time, not all students go on to earn their credential, and may not pursue the
exact occupation aligned with their program.
Table 5: Top 10 Credentials and Annual Openings by Related Occupational Field FY 2021
Annual Job Individuals**
Occupation Openings by Program Enrolled
Field* FY 2021
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 5,819 Commercial Driver's License A 1,493
Medical Assistants
2,122 Medical Assistant 517
Highway Maintenance Workers + Paving,
Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment 751 Highway Construction 487
Operators
Computer User Support Specialists Computer Entry Level (CISCO Networking
2,085 Technician and Associate, CompTIA IT 401
Fundamentals, C
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 1,080 Welding 382
Carpenters 2,941 Core - Introductory Craft Skills 254
Phlebotomists 566 Phlebotomy Technician 252
Pharmacy Technicians 907 Pharmacy Technician 250
Medical Records and Health Information
369 Billing and Coding Specialist 231
Technicians
Nursing Assistants 5,484 Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) 198
*Review based on Virginia Employment Commission long-term 2018-2028 projections.
https://virginiaworks.com/occupational-
projections?page80257=1&size80257=12&page79862=1&size79862=12&page81630=1&size81630=12
Differences may not represent a shortage as other individuals may complete certification through non-WCG programs.
**Enrollments figures can include individuals completing multiple credentials. The figures provided for individuals represents
unduplicated count of the enrollments.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Training Completion Rates Averaged 96% and Credential Completion Rates
Averaged 72%
While completion rates for training vary by field and credential type, the average completion
for the last four years remains relatively stable. About 96% of enrolled individuals complete
their training. Of those who complete their training, about 72% earn a credential. Some
credential rates, such as IT certification, are much lower. A full list of completion rates by
credential type is in the Appendix. Rates may vary because some credentialing and licensing
bodies offer testing on-site while others are located elsewhere. Some students also might be
able to start employment before earning a credential.
Table 6: Average Completion Rates - FY 2021
Training Completion Credential Completion
Occupational Field
Rate Rate
Computer and Mathematical 99% 26%
Construction and Extraction 98% 81%
Education, Training, and Library 95% 96%
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 92% 40%
Healthcare Support 97% 73%
Installation, Maintenance and Repair 97% 77%
Office and Administrative Support 92% 71%
Production 99% 79%
Transportation and Material Moving 94% 80%
All 96% 72%
*30 students have enrolled in the teaching license programs. 21 completed the coursework, but 23 successfully earned a teaching license,
thus producing a credential completion rate over 100%.
Participation and Completion Rates by Institution
The number of students enrolling across training institutions varies. Table 7 provides
enrollments and completions by institution. Half of enrollments in FY 2021 were at
institutions in rural areas of the state. The remaining enrollments occurred at urban
institutions, including Germanna, Northern Virginia, Tidewater and Reynolds/Tyler
community colleges.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Table 7: FY 2021 Enrollment, Training Completion and Reported Credentials by Eligible Training Institution
Completed
Training Institution Enrolled
Training Credential Attained
Blue Ridge 307 303 237
Central Virginia CC 126 118 89
Dabney Lancaster CC 154 133 98
Danville CC 86 82 25
Eastern Shore CC 62 58 45
Germanna CC 1,494 1,464 1,011
John Tyler/Reynolds CC (CCWA) 1,822 1,743 1,192
Lord Fairfax CC 711 678 627
Mountain Empire CC 187 181 149
New River CC 151 144 111
Northern Virginia CC 767 759 417
Patrick Henry CC 135 129 98
Paul D. Camp CC 296 255 169
Piedmont CC 376 371 221
Rappahannock CC 144 143 130
Southern Virginia Higher Ed Center 59 53 44
Southside Virginia CC 386 376 297
Southwest Virginia CC 220 214 148
Thomas Nelson CC 395 381 166
Tidewater CC 381 371 318
Virginia Highlands CC 93 93 77
Virginia Western CC 381 376 323
Wytheville CC 171 166 159
Total 8,904 8,591 6,151
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
Enrollment
The Workforce Credential Grant program tends to serve a nontraditional, older adult student
whose average age is 35. Only 25% of students are 24 years-old or younger. Half of students
are male, 23% female and 30% unknown. In previous years males accounted for 67% of
program enrollments. Similarly, an increased number of records without race or ethnicity
reported complicates analysis.
Table 8: Student Demographics by Sex and Race/Ethnicity, FY 2021
Success
Using the data as reported, credential completion varies by race and ethnicity. (Training
completion rates do not vary significantly.) Black or African American students are 14 points
less likely to earn their program’s credential compared to white students. Hispanic students
are seven points less likely. The increased prevalence of unreported racial and ethnic
demographics makes it difficult to interpret too much for this analysis.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Table 9: Training Completion and Credentials by Race & Ethnicity, FY 2021
Training Credential % Complete % Complete
Race/Ethnicity Enrollment
Completion Completion Training Credential
American Indian or Alaska
25 20 12 80% 60%
Native
Asian 220 217 146 99% 67%
Black or African American 1,717 1,603 1,056 93% 66%
Hispanic 301 286 202 95% 71%
Multi-Race 129 122 93 95% 76%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific
8 8 8 100% 100%
Islander
Race Unknown/Unreported 3,453 3,396 2,289 73% 53%
White 3,051 2,939 2,345 96% 80%
Total 8,904 6,879 4,906 92% 71%
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
EARNINGS OUTCOMES
Methodology
When the General Assembly established the program in 2016, an important component was
to align training to high-demand fields where there was an unmet need for workers. Code
also requires SCHEV to report “information on the wages, including average wage and other
relevant information, of students who have completed noncredit workforce training
programs by credential name and relevant industry sectors.” To better evaluate the impact of
the program on an individuals’ job prospects, it is also important to measure wages before
completing the program as well as after.
Wages were matched through the Virginia Longitudinal Data System with Virginia
Employment Commission (VEC) wage records. While a valuable and unique source of post-
program wages, these records still suffer from a few flaws. Some people are exempt from
reporting, such as individuals who are self-employed, work for the federal government or
those who meet other exemption qualifications. Wages also are collected on a quarterly basis,
without any indication of the hours worked. This makes it impossible to know whether an
individuals’ quarterly wage was based on full-time or part-time work. Matching individual
records from their training to their incomes also takes time, resulting in wage outcomes that
are not as up to date as information about the program itself.
To accurately assess programs’ impact on wages, SCHEV staff only compared students who
had at least four quarters of wages before and four quarters of wage records after completing
the program. SCHEV staff summed those four quarters to serve as a proxy for annual
income, despite the fact that those individuals might be earning additional income not
counted in that quarterly wage, or that they could be choosing to work part-time.
Given the need to restrict analysis to students with wages before and after completing the
program, the analysis below includes students throughout the history of the program, and
not just for FY 2021. The most recent wage data currently available is FY 2020. SCHEV staff
then analyzed earnings of the remaining 15,209 students with wage records before and after
enrolling in the program. Of these, 14,349 students completed their program and 10,700
earned their credential.
Earnings Analysis
Before enrolling in WCG programs, students who completed their program earned a median
annual wage of $24,610. After completion, students earned a median wage of $32,880. This
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
represents a 34% increase compared to the media pre-wage. The median wage increase was
$6,122.
Students who went on to earn the credential saw a greater increase to their wages: an
increase in median earnings of 36% or nearly $7,000 annually. Notably, students who would
go on to earn their credential started at similar starting wages as students who did not go on
to earn a credential, suggesting that post-wages have more to do with credential attainment
than the students’ socio-economic background.
Table 10: Wages Pre- and Post-Program of WCG Completers, by Credential Status
# of Students w/ pre- and
Median Post-
post- wages successfully Median Pre-wage Median Wage Change
wage
matched
Did Not Earn
3,649 $21,689 $26,405 $3,928
Credential
Earned
10,700 $25,665 $34,928 $6,956
Credential
Total 14,349 $24,610 $32,880 $6,122
Median Wages Increased in all Occupational Fields
To more effectively measure specific credentials’ impact on wages, Table 10only examines the
10,700 students who earned their credential and successfully had their pre- and post-program
wages matched. In all occupational fields, median wages increased after attaining the
credential. Students who earned credentials in construction and extraction earned the highest
median wages at $52,395. These students also started with a higher pre-wage however out of
any other group. Students who earned credentials in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
fields saw the largest median wage increases of nearly $13,000.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Table 10: WCG Training Median Wages Before & After Earning Credential
Students who earned credentials in Installation, Maintenance saw the highest dollar increase
in median wages ($11,601). Students with Healthcare Practitioner and technical credentials
saw the highest percentage increase in wages (57%). Notably these students started with the
lowest median wage just over $14,000.
Table 11: Wages Pre- and Post-Program for Credentialed Students by Industry
# of Students w/ pre- Students
Median Median Median Wage
and post- wages receiving positive
Pre-wage Post-wage Change
successfully matched wage premium
Computer and Mathematical
424 $46,564 $51,201 $7,313 45%
(15)
Construction and Extraction
2,122 $33,261 $43,725 $9,101 70%
(47)
Education, Training, and
156 $25,306 $42,124 $8,692 52%
Library (25)
Healthcare Practitioners and
230 $14,294 $22,627 $8,148 61%
Technical (29)
Healthcare Support (31) 1,583 $14,136 $20,824 $4,664 57%
Installation, Maintenance,
845 $22,737 $33,372 $11,601 61%
and Repair (49)
Office and Administrative
452 $25,205 $26,886 $3,508 54%
Support (43)
Production (51) 1,726 $25,066 $37,411 $9,362 61%
Transportation and Material
3,162 $24,841 $34,928 $7,190 53%
Moving (53)
Grand Total 10,700 $22,895 $31,607 $7,050 57%
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Wages by Race & Ethnicity
All credentialed racial and ethnic groups saw increases in their median wages. The wage
analysis by race and ethnicity is complicated by the high numbers of unknown and
unreported, and some groups having relatively small cell sizes (see the enrollments and
success rates by race and ethnicity above).
Table 12: Wages Pre- and Post-Program for Credentialed Students by Race & Ethnicity
# of Students w/
Median Wage
pre- and post- wages Median Pre-wage Median Post-wage
Change
successfully matched
American Indian or Alaska Native 41 22,111 37,163 11,473
Asian 253 31,250 34,698 6,857
Black or African American 2,330 21,235 28,211 6,623
Hispanic 428 23,210 31,397 7,313
Multi-Race 168 14,933 24,954 4,913
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific
18 16,519 38,752 26,080
Islander
Unknown 1,023 32,185 41,901 6,130
Unreported 686 31,161 38,704 6,061
White 5,753 26,687 37,433 7,372
Grand Total 10,700 25,784 35,060 6,951
Wage Increase by Income Range
To better understand WCG’s impact on social mobility, Table 13 measures students’ wages
by pre-wage quartile. Usually in this type of analysis there is an equal number of records in
each group. However, students still needed to have their post-program wages matched, so
the number of students in each quartile varies.
All income groups’ median wages increased after completing their credential. Students in the
bottom quartile (with wages less than $8,600 before completing their credential) saw the
highest median wage increase. These lowest income students saw median wage increases of
over $12,000, or over 400%.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
Table 13: Wages Pre- and Post-Program for Credentialed Students by Income Quartile
Median Median Median Wage
Pre-Wage Quartile Pre-wage Post-wage Change
1st
$2,708 $16,391 $12,435
($0 - $8,605)
2nd
$15,380 $23,045 $7,126
($8,606 - $22,268)
3rd
$30,262 $35,221 $4,329
($22,269 - $39,788)
4th
$57,000 $60,258 $2,988
($39,789 and Up)
17
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2021
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS AND NEXT STEPS
Since the inception of the Workforce Credential Grant in 2016, the program has continued to
grow based on student demand. The largest areas of enrollment occur in occupational fields
with annual job openings that exceed training completions. In addition, median earnings
continue to grow post-training completion.
The Virginia Board for Workforce Development is expected to update the list of high-
demand occupations this year. The Virginia Community College System and other WCG
providers will then match program offerings to this updated list of high-demand
occupations. The newly created Virginia Office of Education Economics also will start
contributing to analysis and policy related to education’s alignment with workforce demand.
18
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2019
APPENDIX: FY 2021 TRAINING CREDENTIAL ENROLLMENT, COMPLETIONS AND COSTS
Training Credential % Complete % Complete Average Sum of GF Average of GF
Enrollments
Completions Completions Training Credential Tuition reimbursed Reimbursed
Computer and Mathematical (15) 829 823 214 99% 26% $691 $706,267 $852
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner 46 46 15 100% 33% $482 $28,457 $619
AWS Certified Solutions Architect 36 36 9 100% 25% $669 $30,660 $852
CompTIA Linux+ Certification 17 17 5 100% 29% $769 $17,068 $1,004
CompTIA Network+ 107 106 29 99% 27% $561 $74,142 $693
CompTIA Server+ 6 4 4 67% 100% $250 $2,000 $333
Information Systems Security
(CompTIA Security, Certified 148 148 45 100% 30% $697 $138,515 $936
professional and ethical hacker)
Project Management Professional
12 12 1 100% 8% $800 $10,400 $867
(PMP)
Computer Entry Level (CISCO
Networking Technician and
457 454 106 99% 23% $743 $405,025 $886
Associate, CompTIA IT
Fundamentals, C
Construction and Extraction (47) 1,912 1,883 1,531 98% 81% $284 $997,427 $522
Construction (Project Management,
52 49 22 94% 45% $471 $44,410 $854
Carpentry, Contractor's License)
Core - Introductory Craft Skills 337 326 284 97% 87% $335 $208,577 $619
Electrical and electrical systems 19 19 19 100% 100% $302 $11,489 $605
Heavy Equipment Operations 155 152 142 98% 93% $1,030 $299,148 $1,930
Highway Construction 1,186 1,180 917 99% 78% $129 $270,993 $228
HVAC (includes license renewal) 31 31 20 100% 65% $454 $23,100 $745
Marine Trade Training 102 98 99 96% 101% $526 $101,690 $997
Plumbing (including license renewal) 30 28 28 93% 100% $678 $38,020 $1,267
Education, Training, and Library (25) 99 94 90 95% 96% $1,330 $244,720 $2,472
Teaching License 99 94 90 95% 96% $1,330 $244,720 $2,472
Healthcare Practitioners and
444 408 163 92% 40% $563 $324,601 $731
Technical (29)
EKG Technician 68 68 50 100% 74% $499 $59,731 $878
Emergency Medical Technician 106 92 52 87% 57% $520 $77,630 $732
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2019
Pharmacy Technician 270 248 61 92% 25% $596 $187,240 $693
Healthcare Support (31) 1,137 1,098 805 97% 73% $861 $1,637,991 $1,441
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) 209 203 109 97% 54% $703 $216,703 $1,037
Massage Therapist 10 8 - 80% 0% $1,500 $12,000 $1,200
Medical Assistant 558 538 427 96% 79% $1,061 $1,023,441 $1,834
Medication Aide 13 13 8 100% 62% $367 $7,707 $593
Phlebotomy Technician 347 336 261 97% 78% $634 $378,140 $1,090
Installation, Maintenance, and
821 800 617 97% 77% $843 $1,244,107 $1,515
Repair (49)
Driveline/Hydraulics Certification 4 4 4 100% 100% $932 $7,456 $1,864
Electrical and electrical systems 224 218 142 97% 65% $542 $196,229 $876
Engine Repair 12 12 7 100% 58% $162 $3,065 $255
Facilities Maintenance 14 14 9 100% 64% $750 $16,345 $1,168
HVAC (includes license renewal) 239 232 171 97% 74% $658 $273,607 $1,145
Power Industry Fundamentals 85 83 83 98% 100% $1,204 $199,800 $2,351
Power Line Worker 151 145 146 96% 101% $1,438 $418,500 $2,772
Automotive 88 88 52 100% 59% $866 $126,774 $1,441
Industrial Maintenance Mechanic 4 4 3 100% 75% $333 $2,331 $583
Office and Administrative Support
587 538 383 92% 71% $849 $777,904 $1,318
(43)
Billing and Coding Specialist 243 240 213 99% 89% $1,014 $459,212 $1,867
Customer Services and Sales 61 55 46 90% 84% $280 $28,280 $464
Medical Administrative Assistant 100 95 77 95% 81% $673 $114,392 $1,144
Professional Coder 171 136 46 80% 34% $928 $167,050 $977
SHRM Certified Professional 12 12 1 100% 8% $690 $8,970 $748
Production (51) 1,089 1,078 851 99% 79% $573 $1,104,411 $1,014
Backflow Prevention 13 13 13 100% 100% $100 $2,600 $200
Machining 147 147 135 100% 92% $621 $176,349 $1,200
Manufacturing entry level (specialist
129 129 90 100% 70% $394 $89,524 $694
and production technician)
Mechatronics (Siemens
5 5 3 100% 60% $1,410 $11,250 $2,250
Certifications)
Photovoltaic 21 21 6 100% 29% $475 $12,825 $611
Welding 636 625 476 98% 76% $637 $701,863 $1,104
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2019
Six Sigma / Lean Practitioner 138 138 128 100% 93% $417 $110,000 $797
Transportation and Material Moving
1,986 1,869 1,497 94% 80% $1,274 $4,327,647 $2,177
(53)
Commercial Driver's License A 1,641 1,561 1,271 95% 81% $1,466 $4,149,443 $2,526
Remote Pilot Airman Certification 35 35 13 100% 37% $158 $7,104 $203
Logistics 310 273 213 88% 78% $384 $171,100 $552
Grand Total 8,904 8,591 6,151 96% 72% $766 $11,365,075 $1,276
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