Corporate leaders say many college graduates are unprepared for entry-level work, citing gaps in teamwork, communication, and practical experience. A Fortune 500 executive argued employers should partner with universities to provide experiential learning; the report notes remote-era schooling removed formative on-campus development opportunities. Ford CEO Jim Farley separately warned of acute shortages in blue-collar trades needed to build AI data centers and factories—shortfalls that will demand vocational pipelines and retooled university workforce programs. Postsecondary institutions face intensified pressure to align curricula with employer needs, apprenticeships, and retraining pathways.