New tools can help high school grads get career skills [View all]

By Gene Sharratt and Sue Kane / For The Herald

Our economy depends on people who complete a credential after high school, such as a degree, apprenticeship or industry-aligned certificate or license. Post-high school education helps individuals gain the knowledge and skills they need to pursue careers over a lifetime, succeed economically — even in uncertain economic times — and create strong communities.

A significant number of Washington businesses are facing critical workforce shortages, particularly in health care, skilled-trades, technology, computer sciences, engineering and manufacturing.

These shortages can be addressed through post-secondary education and training at both community and technical colleges and four-year colleges and universities. In addition, labor-supported apprenticeships, businesses’ re-skilling and up-skilling programs, and online learning options provide training opportunities.

However, even before the pandemic, Washington post-high school education enrollment and credential attainment rates had flattened. During the pandemic, the rates declined dramatically. For the state high school class of 2019, just 43 percent of students are projected to earn a credential by age 26. Black, Latinx, and Native American students are projected to earn credentials at even lower rates. This leaves a 27-percentage point gap between the current rate at which our system is supporting students to complete post-high school education and training, and a 70 percent rate of credential completion that our state’s economy demands.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-new-tools-can-help-high-school-grads-get-career-skills/