Workforce shortages are mounting across the country and in major job categories, requiring educators, employers and policymakers to strengthen class-to-career pipelines. Every U.S. metro area is projected to lack qualified workers in at least one major job function through 2034, according to new research from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Nearly half of the 55 regions, including Atlanta, Detroit, and Seattle, will experience talent gaps in every work category. The center forecasted the number of jobs that will require a certificate or associate’s degree and that offer above-average starting wages and long-term growth. Those benchmarks are $42,500 for median entry-level salaries and $67,500 at mid-career.