Career and Technical Education

What is Career & Technical Education?

• Encompasses 94 percent of high school student and 12 million postsecondary students
• Includes high school, career centers, community and technical colleges, four-year universities and more
• Educates students for a range of career options through 16 Career Clusters and 79+pathways
• Integrates with academics in a rigorous and relevant curriculum
• Features high school and postsecondary partnerships, enabling clear pathways to certifications and degrees
• Fulfills employer needs in high-skill, high-wage, high-demand areas
• Prepares students to be college- and career-ready by providing core academic skills, employability skills and technical, job-specific skills

CTE Closes the Skills Gap and Addresses the Needs of High-Growth Industries

• The skilled trades are the hardest jobs to fill in the US, with 645,000 jobs open in the trade, transportation and utilities sector and 253,000 jobs open in manufacturing.
• Health care occupations, many of which require an associate degree or less, make up 8 of the 20 fastest growing occupations.
• Middle-skill jobs, jobs that require education and training beyond high school but less than a bachelor degree, are a significant part of the economy. Of the 46.8 million job openings created by 2018, 30 percent will require some college or a two-year associate degree.