US Edtech Closes Decade with Record $1.7 Billion Raised in 2019

Two trends have helped to define the U.S. economy leading into 2020—equity market milestone after milestone plus a historically low labor pool. In 2019, the Dow Jones Industrial Average passed 28,000 points, the S&P 500 Index topped 3,000 points and the Nasdaq broke 9,000 in what some have termed one of the longest bull markets in history. At the same time, employers have sought third parties to help recruit top talent or develop it among existing employees. Economic factors outside employers’ control have spurred this need for outside help—it’s hard to hire when the unemployment rate is at a low of 3.6 percent, not seen since 1969 (a low perhaps spurred by a low workforce participation rate as people give up on applying for jobs).