Preparing people for the future of work by designing and transforming workforce-development systems, placing a premium on the elevation of underserved communities and populations
The world of work is changing fast. Not only will artificial intelligence and automation disrupt the jobs market, creating new roles and replacing others, the COVID-19 crisis has had a lasting legacy – causing organizations to reevaluate many aspects of work, the workforce, and the overall workplace.
Our extensive and ongoing research about these shifts places us in a unique position to serve educational institutions of all types in preparing for and addressing these changes, working across the private, public, and social sectors with those committed to delivering the skills and knowledge of the future.
What we do
Labor market and future of work analysis
Informing institutional and individual understanding of which jobs are growing in demand and which skills will be required for the future, including the impact of generative AI and automation on job skills and opportunities
Upskilling and reskilling
Helping governments and other institutions design, launch, and grow efforts to upskill and reskill workers for success now and into the future
Innovative finance
Working with institutions of all types, designing and implementing sustainable funding models to support workers and learners to develop the skills they need
Education to employment
Building coalitions and partnerships between universities, employers, and government agencies to help students transition and succeed in careers after their formal education is complete
Examples of our work
Supporting a state government as it redesigned its reemployment services
Across multiple US states, we helped thousands of workers redeploy and reskill in response to pandemic-related unemployment. This included the creation of coding bootcamps, aligning reskilling efforts with local employer needs, enhanced professional-development coaching, and flexible payback options to lay a strong foundation for the state’s talent ecosystem to benefit employers and employees alike.
Creating a national online job-training platform for youth
Working with governments and other partners, we supported the launch of a new online-training platform to improve job readiness of young adults in a country facing 25 percent or more of youth unemployment. Launched with 20 offerings built on national skills standards and over 40 major employer endorsements for training and qualifications. Over 270,000 students enrolled—50,000 within the first six months.
Transforming the impact of a large community-college system
We partnered with a large community-college system to help address the talent gaps facing employers and the supply of skilled talent to meet projected workforce demand, and connecting the region’s 19 community colleges with the area’s highest-growth industries to inspire new education and training programs, support faculty professional development, connect students to work-based learning and jobs, and strengthen business access to local talent pipelines.
Featured Experts
Wan-Lae Cochran
PartnerWashington DC
Supports public, private, and social sector organizations in designing and executing strategies that will help advance inclusive...
Solveigh Hieronimus
Senior PartnerMunich
Serves clients across heavily regulated industries such as energy, infrastructure, and finance on topics covering innovation...
John-Paul (JP) Julien
PartnerPhiladelphia
Serves US foundations, impact investors, and city and state governments on inclusive economic-development topics and helps organizations...
Jonathan Law
Senior Partner
Supports education organizations and state, provincial, and local governments design and implement major initiatives that advance...
Saurabh Sanghvi
PartnerBay Area - Silicon Valley
Partners with public, private, and not-for-profit organizations around the world to set bold strategies and execute plans that...
Seckin Ungur
PartnerSydney
Seckin leads McKinsey’s Education Practice in Australia and New Zealand, and is the Dean of McKinsey’s Executive Leadership Program....
Featured Insights
Report
Generative AI and the future of work in America
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Which jobs will be in demand? Which ones are shrinking? And which ones could be hardest to fill?
Workforce insights
Article
How health systems and educators can work to close the talent gap
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US health systems could address workforce shortages across a wide range of healthcare roles by setting up their own education...
Report
The skills revolution and the future of learning and earning
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Technology is changing the nature of work. To prepare the workforce of tomorrow and ensure sustainable and inclusive growth,...
Article
Defining the skills citizens will need in the future world of work
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To future-proof citizens’ ability to work, they will require new skills—but which ones? A survey of 18,000 people...
Article - McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
The future of work in black America
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Research shows that automation trends may be widening the racial wealth gap. This article reveals possible interventions that...
Video
Adapting education to the demands of a rapidly changing economy: An interview with Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley
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The head of California Community Colleges discusses partnering with businesses to train and reskill the workforce and his role...
Article
Creating an effective workforce system for the new economy
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Governments have an important role to play in building a deeper pool of qualified workers and fueling economic growth.
Historical reports
Report - MGI Research
Jobs lost, jobs gained: What the future of work will mean for jobs, skills, and wages
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In an era marked by rapid advances in automation and artificial intelligence, new research assesses the jobs lost and jobs gained under different scenarios through 2030.
Report
Education to employment: Getting Europe’s youth into work
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Youth unemployment across the European Union remains unacceptably high, to the detriment of current and future generations. Addressing it requires understanding its causes and then relentlessly pursuing solutions.
Report
Education to employment: Designing a system that works
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Young people can’t find jobs. Yet employers can’t find people with the right entry-level skills. How can we close this gap?