New research published in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis finds that short‑term noncredit training at community colleges produces modest but meaningful earnings gains and raises employment probabilities for participants. The study, using administrative data from Texas and national analyses, reports average annual earnings increases of roughly $2,000 within two years of program completion and an employment probability bump of nearly four percentage points. Outcomes are heterogeneous: programs in transportation, construction and engineering technology show higher returns, and programs longer than 150 hours yield stronger wage effects. The analysis also shows gender differences: men on average receive larger earnings gains, while women benefit most from employer‑sponsored programs. For community colleges and workforce boards, the findings validate investments in targeted, industry‑aligned noncredit offerings as a near‑term lever to improve labor‑market outcomes. But program design, employer partnerships and duration matter for impact. Provosts and workforce leaders should prioritize scaling high‑return modalities, strengthen employer sponsorships, and provide pathways that translate noncredit credentials into stackable academic credit and longer‑term credential attainment.