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With the congressional midterm elections only weeks away, here's how we think things will shake out.
In early spring, Republicans appeared well on their way to steamroll through the midterms and win back control of the House and Senate. Democrats were struggling to compete, weighed down by an unpopular president and sky-high inflation and gas prices.
But as the summer wore on, Democrats' prospects improved. Gas prices dropped, supply chain problems got better and the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade energized their voters - all good news for the party. Some big-ticket Democratic bills that passed Congress in recent months also helped.
Meanwhile, several Republican candidates, particularly Senate hopefuls endorsed by former President Donald Trump, underwhelmed, both on the campaign trail and with fundraising. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) even downplayed his party's chances of retaking the Senate, openly worrying about the "quality" of many GOP candidates.
On top of everything else, Trump's high-profile legal woes have been a drag on his party's midterm hopes.
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But momentum in politics is fickle and can swing back quickly. In recent weeks, Republican candidates have done better in midterm polls and improved on the campaign trail.
So it's increasingly likely that control of the next Congress in January will be split. We anticipate that Republicans still will take control of the House, though they'll likely net fewer seats in the 435-member chamber than we initially expected - 15, versus the 25 sea
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Buttressing your resume with a new skill is one of the best ways to make a modest financial investment pay big returns. One study found that, depending on the skill and the worker's previous education and job, some holders of short-term (typically defined as taking 6-18 months) credentials earned 65% more than otherwise equivalent colleagues.
If you just need to learn a new skill, there are plenty of free options, including online classes available through your public library or on platforms such as Coursera, edX, FutureLearn, LinkedIn and Udemy. And many colleges offer free auditing opportunities to groups such as veterans or those over age 60.
SEE MORE How to Invest $1,000: Buy Fractional Shares (of Great Companies)
But if you want to prove to employers that you've really mastered a new skill, you'll need a certificate or credential program that requires you to pass proctored tests. Almost all of those come with a cost.
And just like any other investment, these are no slam-dunk. One recent study found that about half of the short-term credential programs accredited to award federal financial aid failed to increase earnings enough for students to recoup their costs within five years. And Credential Engine, a nonprofit that is monitoring the field, says that there are now more than 967,000 different credential programs - a number that can overwhelm prospective students.
The experts suggest winnowing by these three factors:
Field: A recent analysis of thousands of job postings by labor market analytics firm Lightcast
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