Nearly 40,000 Alabamians have enrolled in workforce education programs through the state’s community colleges in the last year, boosting the system’s reach to more than 170,000 people from August 2023 through July.
That’s the highest amount since 2013, the Alabama Community College System said recently.
A total of 122,868 students were in credit-based programs at community colleges around the state in 2023-2024. That’s down slightly from 123,291 in 2013-2014, according to numbers given to Alabama Daily News.
Throw in an estimated number of students in adult education programs including GED attainment and English as a second language courses and ACCS gets to more than 170,000, it says.
“This enrollment achievement reflects the growing recognition of the critical role that community colleges play in providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to students from all walks of life,” system Chancellor Jimmy Baker said in a written statement.
While the state has had near-record low employment for nearly two years, its labor participation rate — that measurement of able-bodied adults in the workforce — is a problem state officials and education leaders are trying to solve. It’s 57.5%, compared to the national rate of about 62%.
The community college system in recent years has launched efforts to try to get more people in the workforce ready and system leaders say it is committed to aligning programs with the needs of local and regional employers.
Last year, it began offering free training in certain in-demand jobs.
In June, the system announced a free program to prepare more people for jobs with the Alabama Department of Corrections.
For the 2025 budget year that starts in October, the system will receive $586.9 million in state funding, up about $35.6 million from this year.
Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, praised Baker and other ACCS leaders for the workforce development efforts. Orr is chairman of the Senate education budget committee.
“I believe this is a testament to the leadership of Chancellor Baker and his team,” Orr said. “They have brought visionary and innovative leadership to the ACCS, resulting in the system being recognized as a cost-effective means of improving one’s life through education and workforce training.”