“Attracting the Next Generation” Report Shows
Value of SkillsUSA Within Career and Technical Education
Leesburg, Va. — SkillsUSA membership increases career and technical students’ likelihood of continuing in the career they are studying, according to new research by The Manufacturing Institute.
The institute’s report, “Attracting the Next Generation Workforce: The Role of Career and Technical Education,” was based on surveys conducted by the Educational Research Center of America (ERCA) in collaboration with SkillsUSA. According to the report, 63 percent of SkillsUSA members are planning to pursue their chosen field, compared with 34 percent of students who are not members of a career and technical student organization (CTSO).
While career and technical education has long faced a perception challenge, the report indicates that educators’ opinions of it continue to change for the better. In fact, 82 percent of the teachers surveyed believe it prepares students for the workforce and continued education, compared with 78 percent of teachers in a survey just one year earlier. Also, a majority of teachers surveyed believe industry-recognized credentials are valuable to students, with 65 percent saying industry certificates are the most valuable credential after a high school diploma.
The purpose of the survey was to inspire dialogue between parents, educators, counselors and students in career and technical education. It was conducted between August and December 2016. In total, 56,894 high school students and 1,252 high school teachers responded, including many SkillsUSA members. Students participating in the survey were enrolled in at least one career and technical program. Conducting validated research with ERCA and The Manufacturing Institute lends extra credibility to the good work SkillsUSA does in classrooms nationwide. SkillsUSA will continue to collaborate with ERCA and The Manufacturing Institute. To be included in future surveys, send an email with your name, high school name and mailing address to
info@studentresearch.org. The full report is available here:
www.themanufacturinginstitute.org/Research/Other-Institute-Reports/Other-Institute-Reports.aspx
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. The nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 335,000 member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens as it improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce. SkillsUSA supports its student members through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state and national championships, designed and judged by industry, set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide recognition opportunities for students. SkillsUSA also offers technical skill assessments and workplace credentials through the Career Essentials program, a cutting-edge solution that defines, implements and measures career readiness skills for students. For more information:
www.SkillsUSA.org.
