As California’s economy continues to change, the need for a highly skilled workforce has never been greater. Yet for many Californians, pursuing postsecondary training still requires choosing between earning a paycheck and gaining the skills needed for economic mobility. To address this challenge, EDGE will host a webinar on December 11, 2025, from 10:30–11:30 a.m., unveiling its newest report, The Missing Piece: Building an Inclusive System of Flexible Financial Support for Workforce Learners, focused on flexible financial aid solutions designed to close the state’s affordability gap.
The session will highlight emerging strategies that can help Californians access the education and training programs necessary to succeed in high-demand fields. Featured recommendations include maximizing learner access to the forthcoming short-term Pell Grants, modernizing Cal Grant C to better align with today’s training landscape, expanding direct supports to help students meet basic needs, and incentivizing employers to invest in worker training. Together, these steps represent meaningful opportunities for state policymakers to strengthen California’s workforce pipeline and ensure that more learners can participate in high-quality training without sacrificing financial stability.
With thousands of Californians seeking affordable, flexible pathways into better-paying jobs, EDGE’s new report and accompanying webinar offer timely insights for leaders committed to building an equitable and accessible workforce system. Stakeholders across education, government, philanthropy, and industry are encouraged to attend. Click here to register.
