Once defined by just job training, career and technical education (CTE) has expanded to meet the needs of modern skills-based students and workers. CTE is a realistic and flexible option that makes sense for the rapidly changing labor market.
Jesus Galvan
Research and Policy Coordinator, Association for Career and Technical Education
Career and technical education (CTE) leads the way in education innovation in the 21st century, with nearly 12 million learners across the nation participating in CTE in the 2023–24 school year, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Today’s CTE helps middle school, high school, and postsecondary students find their passion and prepare for further education and careers through hands-on learning across a range of industries — from skilled trades to IT, healthcare, arts and entertainment, business, and more. CTE programs incorporate coursework as well as opportunities to explore careers, to learn on the job through experiences like internships and apprenticeships, and to earn industry-recognized credentials and degrees.
Future-forward readiness
In the past, CTE, sometimes known as vocational education, was often more narrowly focused on job training. Today’s CTE helps students identify and navigate the education and career pathways that work for them, whether that pathway leads them into the workforce, into pursuing further education, or a mixture of both.
The benefits of CTE are clear: CTE is associated with positive impacts on academic achievement, employability skills, high school completion, and college readiness, according to the CTE Research Network. In addition, CTE students are more likely to enroll in two-year colleges and just as likely to enroll in four-year colleges as their peers and are more likely to be employed after high school.
Programs that meet the times
In the 21st century, students face unprecedented challenges as they navigate a labor market reshaped by the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and changing employer expectations. CTE programs prioritize being flexible and responsive to help learners gain the skills, credentials, and experiences they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
For 100 years, we at the Association for Career and Technical Education have been privileged to support CTE educators as they prepare students for the future through professional learning, leadership development, and advocacy for the CTE system. We look forward to the next 100 years of evolution and excellence as CTE continues.
