On the menu of educational options after high school, community colleges and proprietary schools offer students a chance to learn practical skills and to secure jobs with higher pay. But for students who attend these schools, their investment may not pay off in the job market.

A new three-year study by James Rosenbaum (IPR-Education and Social Policy) seeks to explain two key issues: how employers view community colleges, especially urban institutions, and which programs help students to complete their degrees and get earnings benefits when they do graduate.

Rosenbaum hopes to use the results to improve communication between employers and schools. This could help schools offer better training to their students, and would motivate students to earn their degrees and seek meaningful employment in the field in which they studied.

The Spencer Foundation is funding the three-year study, which began in March. The project is also funded by a two-year grant from the Sloan Foundation. The research builds on Rosenbaum's previous studies of the employment of high-school graduates.

The project targets employers, school faculty and staff, and students. Researchers have surveyed 200 local employers about their needs for the current workforce. They are interviewing administrators and staff at 12 schools about how they prepare students for various occupations and how they get information about employers' needs. They are also gathering data from 1,200 students about their education and work training and their career expectations.

The study is distinctive because it examines college-employer contacts and specific institutional and program practices. Community colleges and proprietary schools are dependent on employers to inform them of skill requirements and to hire their graduates.

Even in current prosperous times, community college and proprietary school students may have a difficult time finding employment that utilizes their skills. "The strong job market is an excellent reason to believe that everyone can get a job now," Rosenbaum said. "But it doesn't ensure that employers will recognize their skills and trust them with jobs that require those skills. Employers don't compromise on their skill requirements. The cost of mistakes is too great."

Researchers will dissect the hiring process from the vantage points of both employers and educators. They hope to identify areas where communication breaks down and provide crucial information for students, schools, and employers. Ultimately, this could assist colleges in making their programs respond to the needs of employers and improving their career services to students.