New analyses and surveys argue that colleges must redesign how they connect curricula to employer needs or face declining returns for students. A white paper charging that higher education’s career‑readiness systems are out of step with skills‑based hiring paired with Anthology survey data showing only one in five faculty confident their courses align with workforce expectations. Faculty reported that real‑world applications are their most effective engagement strategy, but administrators still struggle to coordinate cross‑campus efforts, measure outcomes and provide the resources needed to retrofit programs for employer demand. Policymakers are pressing for greater transparency in graduate outcomes, increasing pressure on college leaders to act.