Across America, workforce shortages are making headlines, from a lack of registered nurses, to skilled tradespeople, teacher vacancies and unfilled manufacturing jobs. The heartland is no exception. In North Dakota, there are 49 available workers for every 100 open jobs. Even in states with worker surpluses, like Michigan, there looks to be a mismatch between the skills of workers and the needs of employers. 

One underappreciated solution sits at the center of many local geographies: community colleges. With over 550 community colleges across the 20 heartland states, these institutions are uniquely positioned to bridge the skills gap by offering accessible, adaptable and affordable training to meet evolving regional labor demands.

A Growing Talent Crisis 

In the heartland, the workforce shortage is driven by several forces: rapid technological advancement, like the introduction of AI into the workplace, demographic shifts of an aging population and a post-pandemic workforce reshuffling. Sectors vital to the heartland’s economy, like advanced manufacturing, agriculture and technical services are feeling this crunch.

The labor shortage not only threatens economic growth but also undermines historic federal investments in future-facing industries. Without a ready workforce, even the most ambitious projects risk stalling.

Community Colleges: The Heartland’s Agile and Accessible Talent Engine

Community colleges offer a powerful answer to this workforce crisis, functioning as nimble institutions rooted in local communities that tailor training to the needs of the region. 

• Accessibility: With affordable and accessible learning opportunities, like discounted tuition rates and smaller class sizes, community colleges serve adult learners, low-income students and historically underrepresented populations, expanding the pipeline of workforce-ready talent.
• Practical Education: Through industry simulations, apprenticeship experiences and the cultivation of soft skills, many programs foster job-ready skills. By aligning courses and certifications offered by community colleges with business needs, community college education provides a quick on-ramp into particular sectors for graduates. 
• Curricular Agility: Unlike traditional four-year institutions, community colleges can rapidly adapt curricula to align with local labor demands. For example, as advanced manufacturing needs surge, community colleges support the development of technical specialties with the hands-on training employers desire.

From Education to Employment: Partnering with Industry 

One of the most powerful features of a community college education is the presence of direct partnerships with local and regional employers to co-create curriculum, offer apprenticeships and ensure graduates are prepared for in-demand roles. Across the heartland, states are embracing this model:

Missouri 

Facing a deep workforce shortage—just 53 potential workers for every 100 job openings—Missouri is investing in its community colleges through the MoExcels Workforce Initiative. In 2025, six community colleges were recommended to receive over $26 million to support training in high-need sectors, like automation, nursing, agriculture and advanced manufacturing. 

Nebraska

With just 69 available workers per 100 jobs, Nebraska launched the Future-Ready Workforce Initiative in partnership with Southeast Community College. Offering scholarships and technical training in fields such as electrical work, HVAC mechanics and automotive technology, this program upskills underserved residents facing barriers to employment with $1.3 million in local funding.

Illinois

Despite a surplus of workers—115 for every 100 jobs—Illinois is focused on aligning its workforce system with industry needs. The Illinois Community College Board’s Workforce Education Strategic Plan emphasizes employer engagement and skills-based training in community college curricula. In 2022, a consortium of four community colleges, 12 industry partners and more organizations invested in high-priority regional industries secured nearly $5 million in federal funding to train workers in advanced manufacturing and information technology. 

Community Colleges as Economic Infrastructure

When community colleges join with regional employers to align workforce needs with curricula, the results are tangible: students benefit from guaranteed job placement and increased economic mobility while employers receive a steady flow of job-ready talent. This is great for local economies and essential for realizing the heartland’s potential as an industry hub.

That is why federal and state leaders should think about treating community colleges as primary drivers of economic resilience. Currently, 11 of the 20 heartland states offer free community college tuition: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Expanding this list to all 20 states would be a transformative step toward a stronger, more accessible, industry-aligned workforce.

The bottom line: Community colleges can create robust talent pipelines and spur the heartland’s economy. Flexible, affordable and ready to power the next generation of skilled workers, the future of the talent pipeline will require a strong collaboration between community colleges and K-12 education, community leaders, business and industry.