Local CTE programs aim toward future job growth

Gone are the days when a four-year university degree opened the universe for thousands of graduates.

Ever since World War I, the United States has been driving more and more toward technical education and careers.

Kelli Kelly, a chef at The Slanted Porch who has been in Fallon since 2009, gave a presentation to the Churchill Economic Development Authority on Wednesday on how community colleges and universities are training tomorrow’s leaders in the technical vocations.

“This is an opportunity for us to reach out to business leaders,” she said, prior to her presentation given on behalf of the Career and Technical Education at Churchill County High School.

While Kelly noted the nation’s official unemployment is at 5.9 percent, the figure does not include the following as outlined by a recent Gallop Poll: “If you, a family member or anyone is unemployed and has subsequently given up on finding a job — if you are so hopelessly out of work that you’ve stopped looking over the past four weeks — the Department of Labor doesn’t count you as unemployed.”

Nevertheless, Kelly said 5 million positions remain available, and of that number, only 8-12 percent require a four-year degree.

As for the rest of the jobs, Kelly said the job market requires an Associate Arts degree or below. She also broke down where the jobs exist: Manufacturing, 306,000; trade, transportation and utilities, 892,000; health care, 832,000; and accommodations and food services, 591,000.

Kelly said a misconception is that a four-year degree is the right path for many; instead, she said many students either drop out or take courses for jobs that do not exist.

Kelly said she attended junior college and found the four-year path was not for her; on the other hand, her sister attended a four-year university, and then received her law degree and works in New York City.

Statistics show that only 61 percent of university students receive their degree within six years; the remaining number drops out.

“A high college drop-out rate is harmful to the economy,” she said.

Kelli quickly pointed out, though, that a person who earns a two-year Occupational Technical Associates Degree will earn $6,000 more than nontechnical associates and $2,500 more than someone who earns a humanities degree.

The history of technical education bean in earnest in 1917 with the Smith-Hughes Act, progressed through the Great Depression and post-World War II with the trades and then to the 1980s that re-emphasized the need for technical education from the passage of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act in 1987.

“Perkins was a huge advocate of technical education,” Kelly said.

Today, the schools are answering the call for providing more technical, vocational courses as CTE is designed more for the future.

“Business leaders are calling for more STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) quality graduates,” Kelly said, adding every state has programs now in place to train students in the STEM field.

Also, at CCHS, career clusters complement national student organizations such as Agriculture and Natural Resources (FFA), Business and Marketing (FBLA), Hospitality and culinary arts (FCCLA) and health services (HOSA).

Kelly said CCHS offers may CTE courses in agriculture mechanics and science, medical sciences, floriculture/horticulture, culinary arts, drafting and design and automotive technology.