Vo-techs On Workforce Development: It’s Everybody’s Business

By Timothy J. McCorkell , President of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools and the Superintendent of the Monmouth County Vocational School District On Jun 13, 2016

Employers throughout New Jersey say that one of their biggest challenges is filling current and future jobs: Too many entry-level applicants don’t have the workplace skills employers expect from their employees.

A major part of the problem is that much of our education system’s current emphasis on test scores and college-readiness as the sole measures of high school success tends to ignore other skills that all young people will need to build productive careers: Skills like personal responsibility, problem-solving, teamwork and communications.

At New Jersey’s 21 county vocational-technical schools, we focus on giving young people the teaching and training they need to lead successful, productive lives. Our more than 32,000 high school students are being prepared for all types of careers – and for college, too. In fact, the majority of our graduates do go on to college or other technical training – with the benefit of a clear career focus and often with advanced standing.

Today’s career and technical education programs have evolved dramatically from the last century’s vo-tech schools. Everything involves cutting-edge technology these days, in programs ranging from computer science and engineering, to construction trades and auto technology, to health sciences, manufacturing and even law enforcement.

Students take rigorous academic classes, gain advanced technical knowledge and skills, and at the same time, develop the “soft skills” that employers look for and that everyone needs to prepare for any career. They engage in real-world applied learning that hones their ability to solve problems, communicate effectively and work in a team.

Whether students enter the workforce directly from high school or go on to college or continued postsecondary training, these programs provide the foundational skills and knowledge for a well-paying career.

More than 5,000 students in our adult post-secondary programs are updating their skills or preparing for new careers in construction, healthcare, information technology, hospitality, computer assisted design and automotive technology, to get the well-paying jobs they desire.

These short-term, job-focused programs are affordable and close to home, meeting the needs of employers as well as students.

Many county vocational-technical schools also offer apprenticeship programs and customized training for employers, using the state-of-the-art equipment and specialized knowledge that keeps our programs current with industry standards.

As a major provider of career and technical education here in New Jersey, county vocational-technical schools have an important role to play in workforce development, and we are actively engaged in many state initiatives that are now underway.

Last year, thanks to $3 million in state grants authorized by the Legislature and the governor, seven county vocational-technical school districts worked with colleges and businesses to launch new high school programs designed to prepare students for careers in several emerging and growing industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing and STEM (science, technology engineering and mathematics). Six additional new partnership programs in key industry areas will open this September.

A key to county vocational-technical school success in preparing students for the world of work is getting help from the experts; employers themselves.

Among the most important elements in quality career and technical education programs are the experiences students gain from internships and work-based learning that expose them to employer expectations and real-world situations.

New Jersey’s county vocational-technical schools are able to provide that kind of education and training, thanks to the involvement of thousands of employer partners who volunteer to serve as mentors, classroom lecturers, intern sponsors, co-op employers and program advisory board members.

Our business partners know that the time and energy they invest in working with county vocational schools and students pays off in a better-prepared workforce for their own business and others.

The bottom line is that career-readiness is everybody’s business: It’s the business of the state Departments of Labor and Workforce Development and Education. It’s my business as a county vocational-technical school superintendent to prepare individuals for the world of work. It’s our students’ business, as people hope to launch productive careers. And it’s your business as an employer.

For more information, visit www.careertechnj.org/for-employers.

 

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