EdGate Powers Podcast #26 with Will Markow

This episode of the EdGate Powers Podcast explores how AI is reshaping the workforce, the evolving role of CTE, and what educators, employers, and policymakers need to do to prepare for the future. Rich Portelance sits down with Will Markow, Founder and CEO of FourOne Insights, to discuss workforce trends, skills-based hiring, lifelong learning, and why "human" skills may become more important than ever in an AI-driven world. FourOne Insights: https://www.fouroneinsights.com/ Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction - Rich Portelance & Will Markow; EdGate products overview 1:30 - Will's Background: 13 Years of Workforce Data, Burning Light/Lightcast, Founding FourOne Insights. 3:02 - AI's Real Impact: Making Work More Human. Augmentation vs. Automation 6:07 - Entry-Level Job Market Decline. What the Data Shows and the Looming Talent Pipeline Problem. 8:28 - White Collar Jobs vs. CTE Pathways. Is AI Shifting Career Interest Toward Trades? 11:16 - Reframing CTE. Why It Shouldn't Be Called An "Alternative" Pathway. 12:36 - Redesigning a Modern CTE Program: 3 Non-Negotiables (Keeping Pace with Change, Employer Partnerships, Human/Durable Skills). 15:35 - Skills-Based Organizations: Theory vs. Reality. Why Most Companies Get It Wrong. 19:54 - Top 2 Things Companies Can Do To Upskill Workers. Objective Assessments + Stretch Assessments. 22:20 - Advice for a 17-Year-Old Entering the Workforce. Stable Skills vs. "Sexy" Emerging Skills. 28:28 - Why Lifelong Learning is Now a Business Imperative. Why Companies Must Invest in Continuous Learning. 30:48 - The Role of Educators in Keeping Up with Workforce Change. Why Curriculum Must Evolve Faster to Match Employer Needs. 32:10 - What States Can Do to Support Workforce Development. Incentives, Programs, Policy-Level Solutions, and Solving Entry-Level Experience Gaps. 35:21 - How to Actually Use Workforce Data (Without Getting Overwhelmed). Start with Questions, Not Data. 38:20 - The Most Important Education-Workforce Alignment Signals: Skills, Salaries, & Demand. How to Identify High-Value Opportunities. 40:19 - How to Avoid Chasing Trends and Focus on Real Demand. Signal vs. Noise in Emerging Skills 42:28 - Which Jobs Will AI Change the Most (And What That Means). Tech Roles, Automation, and Augmentation. 44:56 - The Future of Careers: Interdisciplinary and Less Linear Paths. Why "CS + X" and Blended Careers Are the Future. 47:30 - What a Fully Aligned Education-to-Workforce System Looks Like. The Ideal Ecosystem Across Stakeholders 49:15 - What to Do in the Next 90 Days. How Educators, Employers, and Policymakers Should Respond Now. 50:47 - Closing & Where to Find FourOne Insights Research (FourOneInsights.com) Q: How should educators and organizations use workforce data effectively? A: Instead of starting with data alone, Will Markow advises educators and organizations to begin with clear questions or problems. Data should then be used to validate insights, focusing on trends like skill demand, salary value, and supply-demand gaps. Q: What are “stable skills” vs. “emerging skills”? A: Stable skills include foundational abilities like communication, critical thinking, and digital literacy that remain valuable over time. Emerging skills, such as AI or other new technologies, help individuals stand out but may change more quickly. Q: What skills will actually matter most in an AI-driven workforce? A: Will says that the most valuable skills will be a mix of human abilities, like critical thinking and communication, and foundational digital skills that apply across many roles. Q: How are career pathways shifting due to AI and workforce trends? A: Career paths are becoming more interdisciplinary, with workers needing a mix of technical and domain-specific knowledge. Instead of following a single linear path, Will says that individuals may move across fields and develop adaptable skill sets. Q: What is the risk of reducing entry-level hiring due to AI? A: Will warns that if companies rely too heavily on AI and reduce entry-level hiring, they may face future talent shortages. Without early-career workers gaining experience today, there may not be enough skilled professionals for mid- and senior-level roles later. Q: What should modern CTE (career and technical education) programs focus on? A: Will says that effective CTE programs should keep pace with changing skills, incorporate employer input, and provide hands-on learning experiences like internships or project-based work. They should also develop both technical and human skills for long-term adaptability. Keywords: future of work, AI and jobs, CTE pathways, workforce reskilling, skills-based hiring, entry-level job market, education workforce alignment, labor market data, durable skills, lifelong learning