NEW YORK More than a dozen companies have launched free or almost-free college programs for their front-line workers over the past decade. Companies see the programs as a way to recruit and retain workers in a tight labor market or train them for management positions. For hourly employees, the programs remove the financial barriers of obtaining a degree.
Walmart, Amazon and Chipotle have made free higher education accessible for to more than 3 million U.S. workers, but critics question whether the move is glossing over deeper issues.
Companies see the programs as a way to recruit and retain workers in a tight labor market or train them for management positions. For hourly employees, the programs remove the financial barriers of obtaining a degree.