New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report 2022 (February 2023)
Summary
The New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report for FY 2022, issued by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in February 2023. It states that during the 2016 session the General Assembly and Governor established the New Economy Workforce Grant Program (WCG). Section headings report that training completion rates averaged 99% and credential completion rates averaged 77%. Other sections cover program requirements and a pay-for-performance model, student demographics, earnings outcomes, wages by race and ethnicity, the program cap and a reimbursement limit of $3,000 per credential.
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State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
New Economy Workforce
Credential Grant
Annual Report 2022
February 2023
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Table of Contents
Purpose of This Report ............................................................................................................ 1
Summary of Findings for FY 2022 ......................................................................................... 1
Program Purpose ...................................................................................................................... 2
Program Requirements and Pay-for-Performance Model ................................................. 3
High-demand Field and Training Alignment Process ............................................................ 4
Identification of High-Demand Fields .................................................................................. 4
Training Programs Offered by Eligible Institutions............................................................ 5
Enrollment, Training and Credential Completions and Costs ............................................... 6
Training Offered in Nine High-Demand Occupational Fields .......................................... 6
The Average Cost to Each Student was $801. The Average Per-Credential Cost to the
State was $1,844. ....................................................................................................................... 7
Top Training Programs and Alignment to Annual Job Openings .................................... 7
Training Completion Rates Averaged 99%, and Credential Completion Rates
Averaged 77% ........................................................................................................................... 9
Participation and Completion Rates by Institution ............................................................. 9
Student Demographics .......................................................................................................... 11
Enrollment ............................................................................................................................... 11
Success ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Earnings Outcomes ................................................................................................................ 13
Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 13
Earnings Analysis ................................................................................................................... 13
Median Wages Increased in all Occupational Fields ........................................................ 14
Wages by Race and Ethnicity ............................................................................................... 15
Additional Observations and Next Steps .............................................................................. 16
Program Cap ........................................................................................................................... 16
Reimbursement Limit of $3,000 per credential .................................................................. 16
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 17
Appendix: FY 2022 Training Credential Enrollment, Completions and Costs ................... 18
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT
During the 2016 session, the General Assembly and Governor established the New Economy
Workforce Grant Program (WCG). 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 a review of FY 2022 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.
Summary of Findings for FY 2022
In FY 2022, 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 FY 2022
include:
• Institutions offered training in 10 high-demand occupational fields.
• Collectively, institutions reported 11,533 enrollments in FY 2022, a 28% increase from
FY 2021 and the most since the inception of the program.
• Of the 11,448 enrollments included in this report, 11,429 completed training. Among
program completers, 8,794 went on to earn a credential. Both of these levels are
increases of more than 30% from the previous fiscal year. The rates of completions and
credentials remained relatively stable at 99% and 77% respectively.
• Most racial and ethnic groups share high program completion rates, but gaps exist in
credential completion: 66% of Asian American students earned their credential, 11
points below the program average of 77%. Black or African American students’
credentialing rate was nine points below the average, and Hispanic students’ rate was
six points below.
• The average tuition paid by students was $802, up from $767 in FY 2021. The average
state cost per credential attained was $1,850, a $63 increase from FY 2021.
• The program with the highest enrollments was Commercial Driver’s License (class A),
with more than 21% of enrollments. Medical Assistant had the second highest
enrollments, accounting for 6% of all enrollments in FY 2022.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
• Most students who earned their credential saw an increase in earnings. Median annual
wages increased approximately $6,120, or 23%, in the 12 months following program
completion.
• Two-thirds of enrollments entered a postsecondary training program in Virginia for the
first time. The median age was 32 years old.
Program Purpose
The Governor and the General Assembly outlined three primary purposes for the program,
as 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.”
History of Funding
The state’s General Fund (GF) appropriation for WCG has increased since its inception. In FY
2022, the state appropriated $13.5 million in GF to the WCG program. The program ended FY
2022 with a positive balance of $7.8 million. Performance payments were over $16 million,
exceeding the GF appropriation and reducing the end-of-year balance compared to the
previous year.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Table 1: Historical GF Appropriations to WCG
Fiscal Year Amount
2017 $5.0 million
2018 $7.5 million
2019 $9.5 million
2020 $13.5 million
2021 $13.5 million
2022 $13.5 million
Program Requirements and Pay-for-Performance Model
The program entails a pay-for-performance model that provides payments for costs to
institutions, but only when an individual completes training and when an individual
completes a credential.
The requirements include:
• Eligible institutions and type of training: Eligible institutions are community colleges,
higher-education centers and Richard Bland College. The training required of these
institutions 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. The governing boards of the
eligible institutions are required to approve the aligned training programs.
• 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.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
• 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 2: Program Pay-for-Performance Model
Payment Scenario if a student… Student Pays ... State Pays Training 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 earn
2/3 program cost No cost
or report a credential
*Maximum contribution from the state is $3,000.
High-demand Field and Training Alignment Process
Identification of High-Demand Fields
The Code of Virginia 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:
o The relevance of the occupational group to the state’s economic development
strategy, as outlined in then-Governor McAuliffe’s New Virginia Economy strategy
document.
o 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.
o The degree to which the occupations required advanced skills, as measured by entry-
level education.
The board also allows a region to petition to add an occupational field to the list, if that
region can demonstrate sufficient demand. A complete list of training programs offered is
provided 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.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
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, 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 provided in the Appendix.
Table 3: 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 Library (25) Career Switcher/Teaching License
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical (29) Emergency Medical Technician???, 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 2022
ENROLLMENT, TRAINING AND CREDENTIAL COMPLETIONS AND COSTS
In FY 2022, 11,553 individuals were enrolled in training, and 11,429 (99%) completed training.
Among program completers, 8,794 (77%) went on to earn the credential. FY 2022 data are
based on all students completing a training course between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.
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.
Since inception of the program, the program has recorded 44,476 enrollments , 42,712
completions, and 32,536 credentials or licenses. FY 2022 saw a record number of students
enrolled, completing the program and earning their credential or license. The growth of the
program is particularly notable given that, in recent years, enrollments in for-credit academic
programs at Virginia Community Colleges have declined.
Table 4: Workforce Credential Grant Enrollments, Program Completions, and
Credentials, History of the Program
Fiscal Year Enrollments Completed Training Earned Credential
2017 5,210 4,961 3,487
2018 4,310 4,007 3,099
2019 6,970 6,570 5,096
2020 7,440 7,030 5,444
2021 9,013 8,715 6,616
2022 11,533 11,429 8,794
Grand Total 44,476 42,712 32,536
The following section provides data for FY 2022 by occupational field, credential type and
institution.
Training Offered in Ten High-Demand Occupational Fields
The highest numbers of enrollments were in construction, production, healthcare support
and transportation; these fields accounted 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 2022
Table 5: FY 2022 Data on Enrollment, Training Completion and Reported
Credentials by Occupational Field
Total State Average
Payments for State
Reported a Average Training and Payments per
Completed Credential Cost to Credential Credential
Occupational Field Enrolled Training Attained Student* Completion* Attained
Computer and Mathematical (15) 1,061 1,055 297 $694 $938,752 $3,161
Construction and Extraction (47) 2,380 2,368 1,971 $210 $917,336 $465
Education, Training, and Library (25) 75 74 75 $1,330 $198,170 $2,642
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical (29) 316 313 150 $620 $288,399 $1,923
Healthcare Support (31) 1,591 1,583 1,190 $872 $2,432,958 $2,045
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair (49) 1,271 1,225 1,091 $866 $2,043,973 $1,873
Office and Administrative Support (43) 602 593 386 $932 $896,054 $2,321
Production (51) 1,243 1,240 1,016 $579 $1,289,354 $1,269
Public Administration (92) 12 12 4 $183 $2,760 $690
Transportation and Material Moving (53) 2,982 2,966 2,614 $1,325 $7,257,349 $2,776
All 11,533 11,429 8,794 $802 $16,265,104 $1,850
The Average Cost to Each Student was $802. The Average Per-Credential Cost to
the State was $1,850.
As shown in Table 4, the average cost of the program to a student (reflecting one-third of the
cost) was $802. SCHEV provided reimbursements to institutions through state general funds
in the amount of $16.1 million for training completions and credentials. This figure is higher
than the general fund appropriation for FY 2022 of $13.5 million because the program began
the year with a positive balance.
The pay-for-performance model obligates funds when a student enrolls, but funds are paid
when an institution submits reimbursement upon completion of training and earning of a
credential. And as seen in Table 3, enrollments, completions and credentials have been
growing. Also, some students who completed their program in FY 2021 went on to earn a
credential in FY 2022.
Based on the attainment data and the total payments through state general fund, the average
state payment per credential attained in FY 2022 was $1,850 (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 just 10
program clusters. Of the more than 50 programs offered, four programs accounted for over
half of enrollments: Commercial Drivers’ License; Medical Assistant; Highway Construction;
and Phlebotomy Technicians.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
This analysis de-duplicates individual records, such that one student pursuing, for example,
multiple road construction certifications is not counted more than once, as that individual
would fill only 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, the VEC projects annual openings for truck drivers to be about 6,341. In FY
2022, about 2,370 individuals enrolled in the credential program to attain a commercial
driver’s license. Similarly, the VEC projects annual openings for medical assistants to be
2,309, while 627 students enrolled in medical assistance 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 those who do complete
may not pursue the exact occupation aligned with their program.
Table 6: Top 10 Credentials and Annual Openings by Related Occupational
Field, FY 2022
Annual Job Individuals
Openings by ** Enrolled
Occupation Field* Program FY 2022
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 6,341 Commercial Driver's License 2,370
Medical Assistants 2,309 Medical Assistant 627
Highway Maintenance Workers + Paving, 470 VDOT Asphalt Field 382
Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment
Operators
Phlebotomists 466 Phlebotomy Technician 346
Computer and Information Systems 1,311 CompTIA A+ 329
Managers
Carpenters 2,964 Core - Introductory Craft Skills 273
Other Healthcare Support Occupations 6,685 Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) 264
Pharmacy Technicians 990 Pharmacy Technician 196
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 1,160 Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) 196
Health Technologists and Technicians 1,004 Billing and Coding Specialist 170
*Review based on Virginia Employment Commission short-term 2021-2023 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 represent
unduplicated count of the enrollments.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Training Completion Rates Averaged 99%, and Credential Completion Rates
Averaged 77%
While completion rates for training vary by field and credential type, the average completion
rate for the last four years remains relatively stable – about 99% of enrolled individuals
complete their training. Of those who complete their training, about 77% earn a credential.
Some credential rates, such as IT certification, are much lower. A full list of completion rates
by credential type appears 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 7: Average Completion Rates, FY 2022
Training Credential
Occupational Field Completion Rate Completion Rate
Computer and Mathematical (15) 99% 28%
Construction and Extraction (47) 99% 83%
Education, Training, and Library (25) 99% 101%
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical (29) 99% 48%
Healthcare Support (31) 99% 75%
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair (49) 96% 89%
Office and Administrative Support (43) 99% 65%
Production (51) 100% 82%
Public Administration (92) 100% 33%
Transportation and Material Moving (53) 99% 88%
Grand Total 99% 77%
*Education, Training, and library rates exceed 100% due to students earning credential but not completing training.
Participation and Completion Rates by Institution
The number of students enrolling across training institutions varies. Table 8 provides
enrollments and completions by institution. Half of enrollments in FY 2022 were at
institutions in rural areas of the state. The remaining enrollments occurred at urban
institutions: Germanna, Northern Virginia, Tidewater and Brightpoint/Reynolds community
colleges.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Table 8: FY 2022 Data on Enrollment, Training Completion and Reported
Credentials by Eligible Training Institution
Completed Credential
Training Institution Enrolled Training Attained
Blue Ridge CC 510 510 428
Brightpoint/Reynolds CC (CCWA) 1,860 1,842 1,398
Central Virginia CC 148 147 104
Danville CC 42 34 13
Eastern Shore CC 112 111 66
Germanna CC 2,489 2,479 2,047
Laurel Ridge CC 871 866 759
Mountain Empire CC 177 177 163
Mountain Gateway CC 156 156 124
New River CC 185 185 133
Northern Virginia CC 858 857 461
Patrick & Henry CC 173 173 151
Paul D. Camp CC 361 358 238
Piedmont CC 372 372 252
Rappahannock CC 282 282 168
Southern Virginia Higher Ed Center 75 69 56
Southside Virginia CC 572 529 477
Southwest Virginia CC 176 176 118
Thomas Nelson CC 610 609 371
Tidewater CC 659 653 478
Virginia Highlands CC 130 129 110
Virginia Western CC 478 478 445
Wytheville CC 237 237 234
Grand Total 11,533 11,429 8,794
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
Enrollment
The Workforce Credential Grant program tends to serve a nontraditional (adult) student; the
median age is 32. Only 29% of students are ages 24 years or younger.
Table 9: Enrollment by Age, FY 2022
Age Group # %
Less than 18 years 154 1%
18 to 24 years 3,206 28%
Age 25 to 34 years 3,507 30%
Age 35 to 44 years 2,325 20%
Age 45 to 64 years 2,234 19%
Age 65 years and older 107 1%
Total 11,533 100%
By gender, 63% of enrolled students were male; 32%, female; and 6%, unknown (sum exceeds
100% due to rounding). By race and ethnicity, 45% of enrollment were white; 28% were Black
or African American; and 6% were Hispanic. The measures of SCHEV’s strategic plan,
Pathways to Opportunity compare population and enrollment as a proportion for different
groups. Given that 18% of Virginia’s working age population is Black or African American, it
could be asserted that the WCG program especially serves this population. However, the
accuracy of such a claim would be disputable because 16% of WCG enrollments are
unknown/unreported.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Figure 1: Student Demographics by Sex and Race/Ethnicity, FY 2022
The WCG program also serves a large first-time-in-college population. In fact, two-thirds
(7,658) of WCG enrollments in FY 2022 had not previously entered a postsecondary training
or credential program.
Success
Credential completion varies by race and ethnicity. (Training completion rates do not vary
significantly for the largest demographic groups.) Black or African American students are 9
percentage points less likely to earn their program’s credential compared to the program
average. Hispanic students are 6 points less likely. The prevalence of unreported racial and
ethnic demographics complicates this analysis.
Table 10: Training Completion and Credentials by Race and Ethnicity, FY 2022
Training Credential % Complete % Complete
Race/Ethnicity Enrollment
Completion Completion Training Credential
American Indian or Alaska Native 32 32 19 100% 59%
Asian 390 388 258 99% 66%
Black or African American 3,216 3,178 2,152 99% 68%
Hispanic 670 667 476 100% 71%
Multi-Race 249 245 185 98% 76%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 18 18 15 100% 83%
Race Unknown/Unreported 1,815 1,808 1,461 100% 81%
White 5,143 5,093 4,228 99% 83%
Total 11,533 11,429 8,794 99% 77%
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
EARNINGS OUTCOMES
Methodology
When the General Assembly established the program in 2016, an important intention was
better alignment of training to high-demand fields where unmet needs for workers existed.
The Code of Virginia 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 – wages prior to completion of the program as well as after completion.
Through the Virginia Longitudinal Data System SCHEV staff matched completers’ wages
with the wage records of the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). While VEC records
are a valuable and unique source of post-program wages, they are imperfect. For example,
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, thereby rendering
it impossible to know whether an individuals’ quarterly wage was based on full-time or part-
time work. The matching of individuals’ 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, even though 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 for FY 2022 alone. SCHEV staff then analyzed earnings of the remaining 21,407 students
with wage records before and after enrolling in the program. Of these, 15,465 students earned
a credential.
Earnings Analysis
Before enrolling in WCG programs, students earned a median annual wage of $24,877.
Twelve months after leaving the program, students earned a median wage of $30,274. This
change represents a 22% increase compared to the median pre-wage. The median wage
increase was $5,397.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Students who went on to earn the credential saw a greater increase to their wages: an
increase in median earnings of 23%, or $6,120 annually. These wages are not adjusted for
inflation.
Table 11: Wages Pre- and Post-Program of WCG Completers, by Credential
Status, History of the Program
# of Students w/
pre- and post- wages
successfully matched Median Pre-wage Median Post-wage Median Wage Change
Did Not Earn
6,699 $21,065 $24,403 $3,338
Credential
Earned Credential 15,464 $26,538 $32,657 $6,120
Total 22,163 $24,877 $30,274 $5,397
Median Wages Increased in all Occupational Fields
To measure specific credentials’ impact on wages more effectively, Table 12 examines only
the 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 $49,902. However, these students also started with a higher pre-
wage. Students who earned credentials in Education, Training and Library fields saw the
largest median wage increases, over $16,000. These students represent a relatively narrow
slice of the wage analysis, however, with only 136 student records matched.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Table 12: Wages Pre- and Post-Program for Credentialed Students by Industry,
History of the Program
# of Students w/pre-
and post- wages Median Median Median
successfully matched Pre-wage Post-wage Wage Change % Change
Computer and Mathematical (15) 534 $36,303 $44,830 $8,527 23%
Construction and Extraction (47) 4,118 $45,503 $49,902 $4,399 10%
Education, Training, and Library (25) 136 $24,365 $40,563 $16,198 66%
Healthcare Practitioners and
Technical (29) 223 $17,622 $22,060 $4,438 25%
Healthcare Support (31) 2,288 $14,739 $19,711 $4,972 34%
Installation, Maintenance,
and Repair (49) 1,491 $19,578 $30,306 $10,728 55%
Office and Administrative Support (43) 603 $22,136 $22,920 $784 4%
Production (51) 2,181 $23,824 $31,945 $8,121 34%
Transportation and Material Moving
(53) 3,868 $26,259 $32,753 $6,495 25%
Grand Total 15,442 $26,583 $32,674 $6,091 23%
Wages by Race and 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 13: Wages Pre- and Post-Program for Credentialed Students by Race and
Ethnicity, History of the Program
# of Students w/
pre- and post- wages Median Wage
successfully matched Median Pre-wage Median Post-wage Change
American Indian or Alaska Native (NH) 70 $23,710 $31,035 $7,325
Asian (NH) 390 $32,070 $37,955 $5,885
Black or African American (NH) 3,597 $21,629 $26,718 $5,089
Hispanic 640 $23,422 $28,035 $4,613
Multi-Race (NH) 258 $16,229 $23,041 $6,812
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 20 $16,598 $35,271 $18,673
Islander (NH)
Race Unknown/Unreported (NH) 2,222 $32,765 $38,048 $5,283
White (NH) 8,267 $28,192 $35,036 $6,844
Grand Total 15,464 $26,538 $32,657 $6,120
15
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS AND NEXT STEPS
Program Cap
The 2022-24 biennial budget includes language restricting any single occupational field from
receiving more than 25% of WCG funds. In FY 2022, 44% of GF reimbursements went to
programs in the Transportation and Material Moving (53) field. Most of these programs were
commercial drivers’ licenses. As noted above, commercial driver’s licenses made up less than
25% of individual student enrollments, but contributed to Transportation and Material
Moving (53) exceeding the 25% program cap.
Private initiatives, like Virginia Ready, which incentivize students to enroll in and complete
credentials funded through the Workforce Credential Grant, have specifically promoted the
truck-driving programs in response to employer requests for credentialed workers. As noted
above, truck driving positions have 6,341 annual openings, while only 2,370 individuals
enrolled in truck driving programs through WCG, suggesting that there is more demand for
this training than the current WCG funding structure can supply.
To comply with the 25% cap, the VCCS monitors projected encumbrances based on student
registrations throughout the fiscal year. In past years, the VCCS has periodically used
projected encumbrances to implement a temporary pause on student enrollments in truck-
driving programs, to stay below the reimbursement cap. Programs were not paused in FY
2022 due to the heightened demand for truck drivers and statewide initiatives to increase the
supply of commercial driver’s license holders.
Reimbursement Limit of $3,000 per credential
Since the beginning of the program, a reimbursement limit of $3,000 has been in place on any
individual credential completion. Adjusting for the Consumer Price Index, $3,000 in 2016 is
worth roughly $3,700 in December 2022. A growing number of programs have reached this
$3,000 reimbursement limit. In FY 2022, 1,158 programs reached the $3,000 limit, the vast
majority of which were in Commercial Drivers’ License programs, but other programs
included power line worker and heavy equipment operator. As training programs face
increasing costs for personnel, equipment and supplies, policymakers may consider adjusting
this $3,000 reimbursement limit.
16
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
CONCLUSION
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.
17
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
APPENDIX: FY 2022 TRAINING CREDENTIAL ENROLLMENT, COMPLETIONS AND COSTS
Average
Training Credential % Complete % Complete Average Sum of GF
Enrollments of GF
Completions Completions Training Credential Tuition reimbursed
Reimbursed
Computer and Mathematical (15) 1,061 1,055 297 99% 28% $694 $938,752 $3,161
Adobe Certified Associate: Illustrator 3 3 - 100% 0% $250 $750 NA
AWS Cloud 151 151 40 100% 26% $539 $102,056 $2,551
Certified Ethical Hacker 20 20 10 100% 50% $1,045 $31,350 $3,135
CompTIA A+ 393 390 88 99% 23% $840 $401,528 $4,563
CompTIA IT Fundamentals 99 99 31 100% 31% $328 $43,675 $1,409
CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ 17 15 10 88% 67% $221 $5,850 $585
CompTIA Linux+ 7 7 3 100% 43% $524 $5,226 $1,742
CompTIA Network+ 127 127 44 100% 35% $632 $108,006 $2,455
CompTIA Security+ 180 180 65 100% 36% $746 $187,436 $2,884
CompTIA Server+ 4 3 1 75% 33% $322 $1,288 $1,288
IT Fundamentals+ 4 4 - 100% 0% $234 $936 NA
JavaScript Specialist Certificate 5 5 1 100% 20% $1,500 $9,000 $9,000
Linux+ 2 2 1 100% 50% $367 $1,101 $1,101
PCAP - Certified Associate in Python
38 38 3 100% 8% $750 $30,750 $10,250
Programming
Project Management 11 11 - 100% 0% $891 $9,800 NA
Construction and Extraction (47) 2,380 2,368 1,971 99% 83% $210 $917,336 $465
AC Electricity 27 27 19 100% 70% $370 $16,646 $876
Asphalt- Slurry Surfacing 242 240 207 99% 86% $92 $40,972 $198
Carpentry 19 19 19 100% 100% $714 $27,150 $1,429
Construction Project Management 7 7 7 100% 100% $1,038 $14,532 $2,076
Contractor's License 15 15 - 100% 0% $80 $1,200 NA
Core - Introductory Craft Skills 323 323 276 100% 85% $300 $182,192 $660
Documentation & Record Keeping for
10 10 10 100% 100% $200 $4,000 $400
Inspectors
Electrical 30 30 29 100% 97% $550 $32,450 $1,119
Electrical Tradesman License Renewal 1 1 - 100% 0% $42 $42 NA
Facilities Maintenance 14 14 - 100% 0% $1,115 $15,610 NA
Marine Trade Training: Coatings Level 1 21 21 21 100% 100% $340 $14,280 $680
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Marine Trade Training: Electrical Level 1 42 42 26 100% 62% $280 $19,040 $732
Marine Trade Training: Pipefitting Level 1 33 32 31 97% 97% $800 $50,400 $1,626
Marine Trade Training: Sheet Metal Level 1 25 25 25 100% 100% $525 $26,250 $1,050
Marine Trade Training: Welding Level 1 12 12 12 100% 100% $707 $16,980 $1,415
Plan Reading for Inspectors 23 23 23 100% 100% $200 $9,200 $400
Plumbing 93 93 75 100% 81% $651 $110,530 $1,474
Plumbing License Renewal 2 2 - 100% 0% $42 $83 NA
Roadway Construction & Drainage for
15 15 14 100% 93% $283 $8,215 $587
Inspectors
Surface Treatment 249 247 221 99% 89% $92 $42,897 $194
Surveying for Inspectors 15 15 14 100% 93% $208 $6,032 $431
VDOT Asphalt Field 408 405 333 99% 82% $117 $86,095 $259
VDOT Asphalt Field 519 517 435 100% 84% $117 $111,060 $255
VDOT Asphalt Plant 75 75 46 100% 61% $117 $14,116 $307
VDOT Asphalt Plant Level 2 45 45 23 100% 51% $117 $7,933 $345
Welding 20 18 18 90% 100% $927 $33,882 $1,882
Work Zone Flagger 95 95 87 100% 92% $140 $25,549 $294
Education, Training, and Library (25) 75 74 75 99% 101% $1,330 $198,170 $2,642
Teaching License 75 74 75 99% 101% $1,330 $198,170 $2,642
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical (29) 316 313 150 99% 48% $620 $288,399 $1,923
Apprentice Medical Scribe Professional
14 14 11 100% 79% $630 $15,572 $1,416
(AMSP)
EKG Technician (NHA) 77 77 42 100% 55% $547 $65,248 $1,554
Paramedic 6 6 6 100% 100% $900 $10,800 $1,800
Pharmacy Technician 219 216 91 99% 42% $638 $196,779 $2,162
Healthcare Support (31) 1,591 1,583 1,190 99% 75% $872 $2,432,958 $2,045
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support 16 16 16 100% 100% $50 $1,600 $100
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
16 15 11 94% 73% $1,121 $29,041 $2,640
(AEMT) (NREMT)
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) 272 271 138 100% 51% $828 $332,307 $2,408
Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) 50 50 27 100% 54% $609 $46,408 $1,719
Licensed Massage Therapist 15 15 10 100% 67% $1,500 $37,500 $3,750
Medical Assistant 740 734 640 99% 87% $1,057 $1,455,544 $2,274
Medication Aide 20 20 10 100% 50% $367 $11,010 $1,101
Pediatric Advanced Life Support 5 5 5 100% 100% $50 $500 $100
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Phlebotomy Technician 457 457 333 100% 73% $657 $519,048 $1,559
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair (49) 1,271 1,225 1,091 96% 89% $866 $2,043,973 $1,873
ASE Entry-Level Certification:
4 4 4 100% 100% $1,500 $12,000 $3,000
Electrical/Electronic Systems
ASE Entry-Level Medium/Heavy Truck Brakes 23 23 20 100% 87% $1,000 $43,000 $2,150
ASE Entry-Level Medium/Heavy Truck
23 16 20 70% 125% $1,000 $36,000 $1,800
Electrical/Electronic Systems
ASE Entry-Level Medium/Heavy Truck
21 10 20 48% 200% $1,000 $30,000 $1,500
Inspection Maintenance & Minor Repair
Certificate for Apartment Maintenance
11 11 9 100% 82% $650 $13,000 $1,444
Technician
Compact Diesel Engine Certification 4 4 3 100% 75% $333 $2,331 $777
Driveline/Hydraulics Certification 4 4 - 100% 0% $225 $900 NA
Electrical 282 280 242 99% 86% $575 $302,637 $1,251
Electrical Systems 4 4 3 100% 75% $200 $1,400 $467
Engine Repair 19 19 11 100% 58% $184 $5,465 $497
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification 50 50 47 100% 94% $461 $44,675 $951
ESCO System Diagnostics & Troubleshooting
13 13 13 100% 100% $425 $11,050 $850
(Air Conditioning)
Heavy Equipment Operations 105 104 93 99% 89% $1,117 $219,177 $2,357
Heavy truck engines 23 16 21 70% 131% $1,000 $37,000 $1,762
Heavy truck suspension & steering 20 10 18 50% 180% $1,000 $28,000 $1,556
HVAC 310 309 233 100% 75% $735 $403,516 $1,732
PMI - Slide Caliper Measurement 12 12 12 100% 100% $333 $7,992 $666
Power Industry Fundamentals 126 126 125 100% 99% $1,200 $301,200 $2,410
Power Line Worker 165 165 161 100% 98% $1,476 $481,500 $2,991
Power Line Worker: Distribution Level 2 14 14 14 100% 100% $1,500 $42,000 $3,000
SHRM Certified Professional 7 7 - 100% 0% $690 $4,830 NA
Slide caliper management 23 16 22 70% 138% $366 $13,908 $632
Solar Installation Technician Certification 8 8 - 100% 0% $299 $2,392 NA
Office and Administrative Support (43) 602 593 386 99% 65% $932 $896,054 $2,321
Billing and Coding Specialist 187 187 151 100% 81% $1,060 $358,519 $2,374
Customer Services and Sales 10 10 10 100% 100% $232 $4,640 $464
Medical Administrative Assistant 136 136 115 100% 85% $710 $177,958 $1,547
Professional Coder 209 200 82 96% 41% $1,068 $294,757 $3,595
SHRM Certified Professional 60 60 28 100% 47% $686 $60,180 $2,149
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Production (51) 1,243 1,240 1,016 100% 82% $579 $1,289,354 $1,269
Backflow Prevention 21 21 21 100% 100% $100 $4,200 $200
CNC Milling 13 13 10 100% 77% $746 $16,615 $1,662
CNC Turning 10 10 7 100% 70% $743 $12,085 $1,726
Drill Press Skills 1, Machining 4 4 4 100% 100% $299 $2,392 $598
Fi4.0CP Level 1 - Industry 4.0 Fundamentals 11 11 10 100% 91% $700 $14,700 $1,470
Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW) 161 160 118 99% 74% $682 $189,137 $1,603
Fundamentals of Mechanical Systems 19 19 19 100% 100% $412 $15,642 $823
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) 192 192 127 100% 66% $698 $222,899 $1,755
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) 56 56 23 100% 41% $306 $24,411 $1,061
Industrial Maintenance Electrical and
2 2 - 100% 0% $1,500 $3,000 NA
Instrumentation - Level 1
Industrial Maintenance Mechanic - Level 1 3 3 3 100% 100% $932 $5,592 $1,864
Industrial Maintenance Mechanic - Level 2 3 3 3 100% 100% $932 $5,592 $1,864
Job Planning, Benchwork, and Layout 21 21 21 100% 100% $384 $16,144 $769
Lean Practitioner Certification 130 130 125 100% 96% $400 $102,000 $816
Level 1 CNC Milling: Programming Setup &
7 7 7 100% 100% $800 $11,200 $1,600
Operations
Manual Milling Skills 1, Machining 9 9 9 100% 100% $600 $10,792 $1,199
Manufacturing Specialist (MS) 78 78 78 100% 100% $528 $82,432 $1,057
Manufacturing Technician 1 (MT1) 93 93 78 100% 84% $272 $46,488 $596
Marine Trade Training: Outside Machinist
58 58 58 100% 100% $668 $77,530 $1,337
Level 1
Masonry - Level 1 3 3 3 100% 100% $932 $5,594 $1,865
Measurement, Materials, and Safety 29 28 27 97% 96% $401 $21,093 $781
Photovoltaic - Entry Level 7 7 7 100% 100% $475 $6,650 $950
Pneumatics Level 1 4 4 3 100% 75% $399 $2,793 $931
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) 265 264 227 100% 86% $676 $326,071 $1,436
Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification
11 11 11 100% 100% $700 $15,400 $1,400
Program Level 1
Six Sigma Green Belt 7 7 - 100% 0% $800 $5,600 NA
Turning Operations: Turning Chucking Skills 2 2 2 100% 100% $500 $2,000 $1,000
Welder 24 24 15 100% 63% $1,046 $41,302 $2,753
Public Administration (92) 12 12 4 100% 33% $183 $2,760 $690
Emergency Telecommunicator 12 12 4 100% 33% $183 $2,760 $690
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2022
Transportation and Material Moving (53) 2,982 2,966 2,614 99% 88% $1,325 $7,257,349 $2,776
ASME IX Pressure Pipe 2 2 2 100% 100% $267 $1,068 $534
Bridge Preservation for Inspectors 27 27 26 100% 96% $200 $10,600 $408
Central Mix Aggregate Plant 56 56 37 100% 66% $200 $18,600 $503
Commercial Driver's License 2,469 2,455 2,180 99% 89% $1,466 $6,621,692 $3,037
Commercial Driver's License Class A
2 2 2 100% 100% $600 $2,400 $1,200
Endorsement
Commercial Driver's License Class B
14 12 13 86% 108% $893 $22,000 $1,692
Endorsement
Intermediate Work Zone Traffic Control
19 19 19 100% 100% $134 $5,092 $268
Training & Flagger Certification
Logistics Associate 79 79 75 100% 95% $315 $48,200 $643
Logistics Technician 82 82 73 100% 89% $415 $63,800 $874
New Structures and Bridges for Inspectors 30 30 29 100% 97% $250 $14,750 $509
Power Line Commercial Driver's License Class
149 149 144 100% 97% $1,487 $435,667 $3,025
A Endorsement
Remote Pilot Airman Certification 53 53 14 100% 26% $208 $13,480 $963
Grand Total 11,533 11,429 8,794 99% 77% $802 $16,265,104 $1,850
*Education, Training, and library rates exceed 100% due to students earning credential but not completing training.
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