Digital Jobs Pathways Toolkit
Phase 2: Building Pathways and Strengthening Partnerships
With a strong understanding of the ecosystem and labor market, intermediaries can begin designing clear and inclusive digital jobs pathways. This section provides tools that can be used during Phase 2 of the pathways development process to build out pathway models, assign roles and responsibilities, and deepen partnerships—especially with employers.
This section features three core resources:
Career Pathway Mapping Tool
This visual tool allows users to build clear, stackable digital career pathways by aligning occupations, credentials, and advancement opportunities. Ideal for workshops, cross-partner design sessions, or internal planning, it can help teams clarify career progression for learners while communicating shared expectations to employers and training providers. It can also be used to promote pathways to learners and workers.
Pathway Implementation Planning Worksheet
A comprehensive, step-by-step worksheet that turns strategy into action, this tool guides users through every aspect of launching a pathway—from defining goals and determining readiness to engaging partners and tracking progress. It includes sections for internal capacity, employer engagement, community feedback, and progress monitoring. Upon completing this worksheet, users will have a fully articulated implementation plan aligned with stakeholder roles and timelines.
Employer Engagement Maturity Model
This model helps teams assess the current level of employer engagement and chart a path toward deeper, more strategic partnerships. It clarifies the differences between transactional and co-ownership models, offering targeted strategies at each stage. Users can use it to prioritize outreach, tailor engagement strategies, and support long-term employer commitment to digital jobs pathways.
Together, these tools advance the digital jobs pathway priority areas of Strengthening Pathways and Partnerships, Building Employer Commitment, and Managing Programs Effectively. They help intermediaries ensure that pathway models reflect learner and employer needs, that implementation is coordinated across internal teams and partners, and that employer relationships evolve from transactional to strategic.
This section connects the insights from analysis to implementation, laying the groundwork for the sustainability strategies that are essential to Phase 3 of the pathways development process.
Key Takeaways
Phase 2 marks a critical turning point where analysis becomes an action. Designing and operationalizing digital jobs pathways requires detailed planning, relationship-building, and shared accountability among stakeholders. It sets the stage for the final phase to ensure that regional ecosystems can adapt, scale, and continue to deliver opportunities.
Core themes:
- Clear pathway maps create transparency for learners, training providers, and employers alike—supporting informed decision-making and smoother transitions between roles and credentials.
- Thoughtful implementation planning ensures follow-through. Clear milestones, RACI charts, and feedback loops help ensure that initiatives remain on track and include all stakeholders.
- Employer engagement is not one-size-fits-all. The maturity model offers a framework to tailor outreach, deepen trust, and move employers toward co-ownership of the pathway vision.
Discussion Prompts
- Are regional pathway maps aligned with real-world hiring practices and advancement routes?
- Where in the regional implementation plan is risk or need anticipated?
- How can current employer partners be moved one level deeper on the maturity model?
Additional Resources
Four Lessons From Developing Computer Science and Cybersecurity Pathways in Rural Communities
A JFF blog post that highlights insights from pathways implementations in rural communities, with lessons on partnerships, learner engagement, and pathway design.
Credentials That Pay: Designing Pathways to Tech Careers
This JFF resource supports the identification and selection of credentials that employers value, which is critical to career pathway design and curriculum development.
Pathway Model: Computer Science
This resource, prepared for the Montgomery County Educational Services Center by JFF and partners, offers a detailed illustration of an IT education-to-career pathway in Montgomery County, Ohio. It serves as a practical example of a graphic depiction of a regional pathway model focused on middle school through postsecondary education.
Computer Science Careers: Preparing High School Students for Success
A JFF guide that helps educators, including high school teachers and guidance counselors, understand the IT industry, a sector that has many high-wage jobs openings across the country.