Career/Technical Education and Workforce Readiness: Perceptions, Implications, and Considerations

In the U.S., career/technical education (CTE) prepares high school students for the workplace, higher education, and civic involvement. In many instances, however, CTE's value to current and prospective students, parents, employers, and others is ambiguous or ill-informed. This paper outlines the evolution of CTE; identifies key changes and challenges to CTE in recent years; presents results of a recent study of the perceptions held by CTE graduates in engineering/science/technology and other related fields; and identifies the implications CTE has on lifelong learning, workforce readiness, and economic development activities. Considerations for college and university faculty and administrators, employers, and policymakers, among other stakeholders, will be discussed, and recommendations for policy, practice, and future research will be identified