The following recently published research makes the case for the benefits of CTE to students, workers and regional economies.
Students Want Technical Training: More students are considering community and technical colleges and programs, according to a survey of 500-plus U.S. high school sophomores, juniors and seniors conducted by the College Savings Foundation. This includes 28 percent looking to enroll in community colleges and 8 percent aiming to participate in postsecondary vocational/career programs—up from 20 percent and 4 percent, respectively, in 2016.
In addition, 81 percent of students would like colleges to focus more on skills training than on majors that lead to employment further down the road, and 70 percent say they would rather attend such an institution.
Data on CTE Postsecondary Students: Thirty-eight percent of college students in 2011-12 were seeking an associate degree or postsecondary certificate in a CTE field of study, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Health care was the most popular CTE program, followed by business and marketing. Subbaccalaureate CTE students most often attended public two-year colleges—65 percent—with 20 percent enrolled in for-profit institutions.
Skills Gap for Technicians: Equipment distributors are struggling to cope with a skills gap, according to this one-pager from the Associated Equipment Distributors. To address the problem, the infographic recommends incentivizing CTE programs at high school and postsecondary levels.
Building the Southern Workforce: More than half of all jobs in the Southern United States require some college education, such as an associate degree or postsecondary certificate, but less than a bachelor’s degree, according to a National Skills Coalition report. The publication describes how CTE and career pathways can improve the skilled workforce in the South.
Certificate Holders Reap Rewards: Postsecondary certificates bring rewards to Oregonians, according to an analysis from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Young certificate holders can double their earnings after completion. Mid-career workers also benefit, although their trajectory is a bit bumpier: They typically experience a decline in earnings while pursing a certificate, but make a recovery after earning their credential. Students earning certificates in health care fields typically see the largest wage gains.
ED Online Resource Library: The U.S. Department of Education has launched a new, online Comprehensive Center Network, pulling together resources from the department’s centers focused on specific education initiatives, such as the College and Career Readiness and Success Center, and from its regional centers. The network includes more than 700 resources and more than 200 projects.
State Guide to Non-degree Credentials: A new guide from the Workforce Data Quality Campaign includes step-by-step instructions for states on measuring non-degree credential attainment using student-level administrative data.