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Digital fluency, industry-recognized certifications viewed as difference makers in the job market

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – Community college students believe combining an academic degree with an industry-recognized certification expands their employment options, according to new research from CompTIA, Inc., the leading global provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certification products.

The transition from the classroom to the job market creates anxiety on several fronts, CompTIA’s “Community College Student Trends” report finds. Identifying the right career path, concerns about a lack of work experience and worries about gaps in their academics and skills all weigh on students’ minds.

To ease their concerns, a solid majority of community college students have turned to industry-recognized certifications and additional skills-building efforts to better prepare themselves for the world of work.

On the certification front, community college students believe that industry recognized credentials provide value; by validating skills are relevant and current (83%), providing a steppingstone to career advancement (81%) and expanding employment opportunities and opening doors with hiring employers (78%).

“Employers take notice when a candidate has enhanced classroom learning with a certification that’s highly relevant to the job they are seeking,” said Kirk Smallwood, vice president, key accounts and industry engagement, CompTIA. “This is particularly true in technology, where successful IT professionals keep their skills current and relevant as the pace of innovation accelerates.”

Students also believe building or expanding skillsets is important to early career success. Skills rated as most important regardless of career field include:

Leadership, teamwork & communications     88%

Digital fluency                                                 82%

Data and analytics                                          79%

Project management & operations                 77%

The potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs and careers is also on the mind of community college students. Just under half (48%) have mixed feelings about AI, 26% are generally positive and 17% generally negative. Regardless of their feelings, students are preparing, with a net 70% taking some action to improve their AI career readiness.

Health, medical and dental programs are the most popular field of study among survey respondents (21%). Other fields of interest include business (18%), engineering, science or math (13%), art, music or theater (11%) and information technology (10%). A persistent confidence gap, where students feel they don’t have what it takes to succeed, continues to hold down students’ interest in technology as a career option.

CompTIA’s “Community College Student Trends” is based on a survey of 462 students at two-year community colleges conducted in late December 2024 and early January 2025. The full report is available at https://www.comptia.org/content/research/community-college-student-trends.

About CompTIA
CompTIA, Inc. is the leading global provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certification products. CompTIA unlocks potential in millions of aspiring technology professionals and careers changers. Working in partnership with thousands of academic institutions and training providers, CompTIA helps students build career-ready skills through best-in-class learning solutions, industry-recognized certifications and career resources. Learn more at https://www.comptia.org/.

Contact
Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA, Inc.
sostrowski@comptia.org
+ 1 630-678-8468