A new national survey reveals that employers maintain robust confidence in higher education's ability to prepare students for the workforce, even as broader public trust in colleges and universities has declined to historic lows.
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The findings, released in a report titled "The Agility Imperative: How Employers View Preparation for an Uncertain Future," surveyed 1,030 executives and hiring managers across private, public and government sectors. It marks the ninth such survey AAC&U has conducted since 2006.
"At a time when overall public confidence in higher education has reached historic lows, it is notable—and heartening—that confidence is dramatically higher among those who evaluate graduates' readiness for today's evolving workforce," said AAC&U President Dr. Lynn Pasquerella.
The survey found strong alignment between liberal education outcomes and workplace needs. Employers indicated they value both workforce preparation and citizenship development equally, with 94 percent saying colleges should help students become informed citizens—the same percentage who said institutions should prepare a skilled workforce.
Employers demonstrated strong support for campus environments protecting open inquiry, with 89 percent agreeing all topics should be open for discussion on college campuses. More than 80 percent said they would view a degree more favorably if it came from an institution free from government restrictions on learning and known for respecting diverse perspectives.
The ability to engage constructively across disagreement emerged as a highly valued skill, with 96 percent of employers saying it is useful for graduates to develop this ability in college. Eighty percent expressed confidence that institutions are helping students build these skills.
