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Is America Preparing Its Future Workforce?

Guest post by: Roger Ingbretsen

Article Overview: Despite the conventional wisdom that suggests the only path to employment success is a college degree, many people will, find living-wage jobs without ever stepping foot on a college campus. But are we preparing the majority of our students for the real-world of work?

Is America Preparing Its Future Workforce?

When you paint a picture of the “real workplace” it looks like this. Approximately 25% of the jobs in America require a 4 year college degree, (this is not expected to change for many years) another 25% do not require any degree only a very basic education (these unskilled jobs will continue to decline). The remaining 50% require some type of specific training either on-the-job or by the education and training sector. This is also the area of the greatest demand and the least amount of qualified applicants. This 50% population of job seekers will require certification in some specific skill, completion of an apprenticeship program, or a two year technical or vocational degree. This 25/50/25 percentage breakout varies from state-to-state and by location, but is close to the average.

How is America preparing its future workforce to meet the challenges, changes, and the opportunities of the 21^st Century?

The American “K – 12 education system,” to the greatest extent possible, is designed to educate and prepare all students for college. When asked, 80% of parents expect and want their kids to go to college; however, many parents don’t fully understand what it takes to prepare their child educationally and financially for a “true” college education (a degree that is in demand) nor do they know about the many “other options” available to their children other than college. School counseling programs and counselors spend a large portion of time, money and effort directing students toward the world of higher education. Resource centers, recruitment on high school campuses by colleges and universities, and the personal expertise of the counselors, are virtually all focused in this college-bound effort.

On the other end of the spectrum, the vast amount of federal and state workforce preparation dollars are mostly directed at the lower performing students who are academically, emotionally or physically challenged, in drop-out prevention programs, working on GED attainment, training felons and other “at-risk” individuals. With rare exceptions, these groups of individuals are for the most part being educated and trained for unskilled or at best, the low paying entry level jobs. These groups of individuals also occupy much of the high school counselor’s time and effort.

The “forgotten middle” (the average, good, B student) has been provided little or no direction or guidance. This population is exactly where the most opportunity lies with regard to addressing the shortage of “employable individuals” for the 21^st Century workplace. Despite the conventional wisdom that suggests the only path to employment success is a college degree, many people in this population group can, and will, find living-wage jobs without ever stepping foot on a college campus.

Do you think we are preparing our students (your children) for the workplace? If not, get involved at the local level and demand that the curriculum meets the needs of the workplace. Make sure that students are taught not just theory, but how to apply what they are being taught in real-world situations. Make sure that the middle 50% are getting the career educational guidance necessary to sustain them in the future. Without your intervention and input they are likely to fail in the real-world of work.

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Article Tags: employment success, jobs, student preparation, workforce



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