New research in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis links short‑term, noncredit community college training to modest earnings and employment gains. The study tracked more than 128,000 Texas community college noncredit enrollees and found average annual earnings rose about $2,000 within two years of program completion, with employment likelihood increasing by nearly four percentage points. Outcomes varied by field and program length: transportation, construction and engineering technology programs produced higher returns, and longer programs (150+ hours) showed the strongest wage effects. The study also found gender differences: men realized larger average earnings gains, while employer‑sponsored programs better served women. Workforce and continuing‑education leaders should use these findings to align short courses with local labor demand, consider program duration thresholds for impact, and design employer partnerships to improve equity of returns.