Career and Technical Education: Great for Students and Workforce Development
Labor shortages continue to impact business and industry, creating a direct need in our region – and throughout the state – to grow our pool of highly skilled workers to keep businesses from leaving, help them prosper, and drive economic growth.
Over the years, Allegheny County’s workforce and job market have evolved, as have the avenues to achieve gainful employment. The county’s education system is responding by aligning career and technical education (CTE) opportunities to the growing demand for skilled workers in the region. Through the CTE system, students can explore career pathways and receive credentials, including job training, apprenticeships, associate degrees, and certificates that prepare them to enter postsecondary education and the workplace following graduation.
Today’s CTE is not yesterday’s Vo-tech; it has shifted just as the workforce has. Allies for Children works with partners to increase and diversify both enrollment in CTE programming and business partners that are shaping CTE programs. To accomplish this, we advocate for increases in federal Carl D. Perkins funding and state CTE funding.