Facts and Figures

What is the “skills gap?”

53 percent of all jobs in the U.S. today are “middle-skill” jobs that require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree, but only 43 percent of workers are trained to the middle-skill level. – National Skills Coalition

46 percent of employers cite difficulty finding skilled talent, and positions in the skilled trades are the hardest to fill. – 2018 Talent Shortage Survey, Manpower Group

More than 80 percent of manufacturers report that talent shortages impact their ability to meet customer demand.  – “The Skills Gap in US Manufacturing,” Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute

Why career and technical education?

CTE prepares students to be college- and career-ready by providing core academic skills, employability skills, and technical, job-specific skills, including through hands-on learning opportunities. Partnerships between business and education ensure CTE students learn the skills for high-wage, high-skill and in-demand career fields, including manufacturing, IT, and healthcare. These programs help build a strong national workforce, closing the “skills gap.”

In 2016-2017, there were over 11.8 million CTE students at the secondary and postsecondary level. – Advance CTE