Consider this paradox. Many industries are struggling to hire the workers they need, with severe labor shortages in healthcare, manufacturing, technology, AI, and other industries. At the same time, our nation’s public schools struggle to place students in high-demand jobs that provide career success, financial security, and happiness.
There is a simple solution to deal with this. By partnering with school systems and investing in career and technical education (CTE), companies can directly address this growing talent shortage now, before it becomes a crisis in the coming years. They also enjoy additional associated benefits, such as increased access to a diverse workforce, improved company reputation, and better alignment with corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.
Expanding the talent pipeline and preparing students for tomorrow’s jobs requires reaching out to all students, especially those from underserved communities and socio-economic groups who may experience “opportunity gaps.” It is essential to provide more career education and vocational training opportunities for students from lower backgrounds. Many of these students lack access to the critical skills and career-related learning they need to thrive in today’s economy.
In a recent survey, 79% of high school students expressed interest in participating in a work-based learning experience, but only 34% were aware of any opportunities within their age group. It was. Additionally, the Board of Accountants notes that even though students are aware of the opportunities, they still face barriers such as lack of transportation and support services, language barriers, and inflexible schedules, which still discourage many students from participating. I made it clear that I couldn’t.
When the business community and the public education system partner to provide more accessible work-based learning opportunities, everyone benefits. Companies develop the next generation of workers, and students have the opportunity for lifelong economic success.
Supporting students at the intersection of industry and education
As a link between industry and education, we’ve seen all kinds of creative CTE initiatives from passionate companies and organizations. The most successful programs overcome common challenges by aligning CTE programs with real-world skills needed by industry, fostering student interest and engagement, and attracting diverse groups of students to CTE programs. Here are some examples:
Partnerships and Collaboration: Through partnerships with local school districts, companies can help design relevant curriculum and ensure CTE programs meet long-term skills needs.
Internships and Scholarships: To encourage student participation in CTE programs, companies can offer interesting internship or apprenticeship programs that provide students with hands-on experience and exposure to new work areas. Additionally, working with schools to provide scholarships, especially to low- and moderate-income students, is another way to increase participation and support future educational opportunities.
Guest Speakers and Mentorship: Experts from a variety of industries serve as guest speakers or mentors, sharing their career experiences and providing direct guidance to students. This helps students gain exposure to real-world jobs and fields they might not otherwise have known about. Additionally, providing CTE resources directly to students further increases the participation of students who do not have reliable transportation or who face other challenges in accessing out-of-school opportunities. Masu.
What would these strategies look like in practice?
The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ), the voice for auditors of publicly traded companies in the United States, has created a digital education program designed to help high school students discover careers in accounting, while also promoting diversity and representation in the accounting profession. increased. As part of the program, signature events at schools will introduce students to accountants and explain the accounting field and its role.
The Principal Foundation, an independent philanthropic organization founded by Principal Financial Group, is the founder of DataSetGo, a national program that introduces students from low- to moderate-income communities to workforce opportunities in the rapidly growing field of data science. has been launched.
In Indiana, high school students earn their nursing assistant certification while rotating at local hospitals. At Colorado State, students help businesses with marketing research and social media. In California, students work together at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, learning about supply chain management and international business.
Rethinking education for the 21st century
We can make real progress by closing the opportunity gap and filling the pipeline of workers for tomorrow’s jobs. But this requires rethinking the role of the private sector in education. Companies can help optimize and innovate career-relevant learning for students from K-12 to high school. From exposure to new career possibilities to learning new, in-demand skills to on-the-job training for course credit, the private sector is helping strengthen CTE programs to help more students gain critical real-world experience. Learn skills to help you succeed in tomorrow’s society. economy.
Far from corporate philanthropy, companies that invest in CTE will reap tangible benefits such as faster development of skilled talent, increased diversity, and improved corporate reputation.
By working with school systems to connect core basic education with the 21st century skills needed to compete in a rapidly changing world, companies can help close the opportunity gap, solve the worsening jobs crisis, and improve skills. This ensures that your company has a pipeline of qualified talent. future.
This is a huge win for students, businesses and the country as a whole.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary articles are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Fortune.
