In what ways can community and business members collaborate with teachers to benefit Career and Technical Education students?

ROAD MAP TO RECOVERY CTE in the Current Economy October 13, 2010 Presented By: Eleni Papadakis Executive Director Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

Times are tough! year olds – 11.5% unemployment rate African American and Hispanic year olds – 28%

Even worse for youth!

Ratio of youth to adult unemployment has been rising Length of increased unemployment results in more unemployed and underemployed youth than ever before

The Good News…sort of…

The worry… It takes longer for youth employment to rebound It takes longer for youth employment to rebound Historically, recession era youth are less likely to achieve the economic gains of the just pre- and post era youth Historically, recession era youth are less likely to achieve the economic gains of the just pre- and post era youth Recession era youth who do not find a foothold in the labor market after graduation will jostle with each succeeding graduating class, and will fall further behind Recession era youth who do not find a foothold in the labor market after graduation will jostle with each succeeding graduating class, and will fall further behind

More worries… 63% of all jobs will require some college or better by Source: Analysis of March CPS data, various years, Center on Education and the Workforce forecasts of education demand to 2018

By 2018, the US will be short 3 million degrees, WA will be short 259,000 Degree creep is expected to be the new reality for many years to come Degree creep is expected to be the new reality for many years to come Degrees become commodities Degrees become commodities The cost benefit ratio is beginning to decrease The cost benefit ratio is beginning to decrease Education-generated debt will rise Education-generated debt will rise

What Else? Realities: Realities: Continued Globalization Continued Globalization Virtualization Virtualization Rote or Routinized work will be automated Rote or Routinized work will be automated Watch out for Geezers Watch out for Geezers Expectations: Expectations: What is green? What is green? Customization will continue Customization will continue US Manufacturing will be strengthened US Manufacturing will be strengthened

Helping CTE Students over these hurdles Research in the 1980’s (Carter Task Force on Youth Employment) found that, all else being equal, the most likely indicator of employment success as an adult is having a job in teen years. Formulating the habits of working and identifying with the workplace, results in better labor force attachment.

Riding the Labor Market Escalator Traditional Ride (smooth): Traditional Ride (smooth): Begin at entry level or semi-skilled; Perseverance leads to progress over time to successively greater responsibility and income level; periods of plateau, but stable Begin at entry level or semi-skilled; Perseverance leads to progress over time to successively greater responsibility and income level; periods of plateau, but stable New Ride (bumpy and churning): New Ride (bumpy and churning): Begin at entry level or semi-skilled; might be tossed off or have hours reduced; perseverance will lead to periods of progress follow lengthy periods of stasis or churn; continually jostling for foothold Begin at entry level or semi-skilled; might be tossed off or have hours reduced; perseverance will lead to periods of progress follow lengthy periods of stasis or churn; continually jostling for foothold

What do we do? Prepare students for self-management of escalator ride Prepare students for self-management of escalator ride Teach financial management Teach financial management Career pathways are likely to be quilts rather than ladders Career pathways are likely to be quilts rather than ladders Future proof each student Future proof each student Help students find their inner entrepreneur Help students find their inner entrepreneur Create solid lasting relationships with employers Create solid lasting relationships with employers

When there’s no job to be had… Unpaid work experience Unpaid work experience Internships Internships Mentors Mentors Work-based projects Work-based projects Volunteer – Find a problem or issue and get involved in solving it Volunteer – Find a problem or issue and get involved in solving it Build relationships with employers that allow youth to keep up-to-date and relevant with chosen field Build relationships with employers that allow youth to keep up-to-date and relevant with chosen field

Build Relationships in High Demand Fields Research the business needs of the industry generally and in your community Research the business needs of the industry generally and in your community New technologies? New technologies? New markets? New markets? Aging workforce? Aging workforce? Market customization? Market customization? Virtualization? Virtualization? Going Global? Going Global? Ecological issues? Ecological issues? More rigorous standards? More rigorous standards? What else? What else?

Create confidence that your program will meet their needs How does the business measure the success of its employees? How does the business measure the success of its employees? Can you develop similar metrics for student projects? Can you develop similar metrics for student projects? Where does the business see itself in 3 – 5 years? Where does the business see itself in 3 – 5 years? Can you demonstrate that this vision is part of your curriculum? Can you demonstrate that this vision is part of your curriculum? How can you ensure that students will be able to use the technology of their future today? How can you ensure that students will be able to use the technology of their future today?

Employer Engagement Strategies Project leaders—don’t stop at a guest presentation Project leaders—don’t stop at a guest presentation Donate equipment or allow for equipment use on-site at workplace Donate equipment or allow for equipment use on-site at workplace Develop real world projects or examples from the workplace Develop real world projects or examples from the workplace Teacher Externships Teacher Externships

Employer Engagement Strategies Employer Externships (Loaned instructors, equipment maintenance) Employer Externships (Loaned instructors, equipment maintenance) Student Internships – make them real Student Internships – make them real Job Shadows Job Shadows Mentors Mentors Guest Lectures Guest Lectures Field Trips Field Trips

A word about mentorships and internships Most adults love to talk about how they got to where they are…whether they are happy with their position or not! Most adults love to talk about how they got to where they are…whether they are happy with their position or not! Help a mentor or internship supervisor be a good navigator for their protégé. Help a mentor or internship supervisor be a good navigator for their protégé. Provide resources, guides, and training if possible Provide resources, guides, and training if possible

Consider… Becoming the “Center for Excellence” for local employers Becoming the “Center for Excellence” for local employers Centers across the country are co-funded (in-kind and/or cash) by employers when: Centers across the country are co-funded (in-kind and/or cash) by employers when: They see the impact for their bottom line They see the impact for their bottom line They play a role in governance or oversight They play a role in governance or oversight They participate in evaluation and continuous improvement They participate in evaluation and continuous improvement