A projected 68% of New Jersey jobs will require some level of postsecondary education or training by 2031, making it more essential for academia to more closely align with industry to meet evolving workforce needs.
That was the message delivered by Sandra Gilot-West, chief of staff for the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE), at the recent 2026 Workforce Summit presented by Focus NJ and the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.
“Higher education is being asked to be more responsive, more connected, and more outcomes-driven,” Gilot-West said. “This underscores the partnership we need to have between higher education and industry to prepare the next generation of talent and to continue to provide upskilling opportunities to the current workforce.”
The state’s “co-investment in talent development” is critical, Gilot-West said, and she elaborated on several programs, including the New Jersey Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program that provides grants to New Jersey employers to offer paid, hands-on training to students and recent graduates.
Go here for Gilot-West's complete remarks.
