“Work Trends RU” Podcast with Jimmy Green and Jackie Burke

February 24, 2026

A Conversation with Jimmy Green, of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, and Jackie Burke, of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, Guests on Work Trends RU Podcast

Listen to the latest episode of the Heldrich Center’s “Work Trends RU” podcast, featuring Jimmy Green, Research Project Manager at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, and Jackie Burke, Executive Director of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, to discuss the role career and technical education plays in shaping students’ pathways from high school to college and careers.

Moderated by Laurie Harrington, Heldrich Center Executive Director & Senior Researcher, the conversation highlights new research on participation trends, demographic patterns, and levels of student engagement, along with an overview of New Jersey’s county-based vocational-technical school model, expanding programs in high-demand fields, and the importance of employer partnerships and work-based learning in preparing students for long-term career success.

Listen on our podcast page or on our YouTube channel.

“Work Trends RU,” explores the changing worlds of work, education, social policy, and financial security. The series covers a variety of issues, including the contemporary workforce, economic challenges, artificial intelligence and the future of work, and how public policies and private initiatives are responding to the needs of job seekers, workers, and employers.

WorktrendsRU Podcasts

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