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As technological advances and economic globalisation have taken hold in the United States and beyond, the necessary elements for regional success in the emerging economy are no mystery. Regions will thrive or decline based upon how well they cultivate 'knowledge workers': individuals who have postsecondary education credentials, technical savvy, the ability to learn rapidly, and an entrepreneurial approach to employment. Knowledge workers earn higher pay than less skilled workers, and researchers and policy makers increasingly see them as the key to economic development. This white paper lays out the economic justification for career pathways for knowledge workers, describes the process involved and sets the stage for future reporting. 'Career pathways' is described as a particular framework or approach by which regions can better align publicly supported systems and programs to build a knowledge economy workforce customised to the needs of local labour markets. The paper describes how policy makers in a growing number of states and localities and at the federal level in the USA are using the career pathways approach to address the imperative to build a knowledge workforce despite shrinking public resources.