The Stranded Talent Dilemma: A Challenge to Higher Ed, Employers, and Government ^45%

Washington Monthly - By Bruno V. Manno - 6/24/2026, 9:00 AM

Indoctrination 23.2% - False Dilemma 15.3% - Optimism Bias 11.7%

Millions of Americans are employed. But their work doesn’t advance them. They’re stranded inside of it. We’ve built a workforce system designed to get people jobs. But we haven’t built one to help them move forward. A person can be employed and educated yet stuck. A worker may have a paycheck but no significant raise. A worker may have... more