Washington’s community and technical colleges are again acting as an economic bellwether, new system head Nate Humphrey says, with enrollment climbing as the job market cools and long-term unemployment rises. Humphrey, who became executive director in August, described the 34-college system as countercyclical, warning it faces tight budgets while reshaping programs for AI-driven workplaces. Colleges are expanding applied bachelor’s degrees, stackable credentials and hybrid learning while weighing their physical footprint. Humphrey said skills remain the safest hedge against economic downturns.
