By Cecilia Retelle Zywicki, CEO at PATHWAYos.
The start of a new school year brings excitement for parents, educators and students alike. It is a fresh start with endless possibilities for growth, connection and experiences.
But for many students—especially those who are entering the later part of their K-12 journey—there is insurmountable pressure to ensure they are obtaining enough credits, maintaining a strong GPA and determining plans for after graduation.
In 2009, college-bound plans were the norm for about 70% of students. After a decade of flux, college enrollments began falling drastically in 2019, with an 8% drop over three years.
Today, many education programs still operate under the assumption that students will attend college, teaching skills solely geared toward those proceeding to higher education—but the data has shifted. And the programs to support students must change, too.
Students are exiting high school and entering directly into the workforce. They wonder how years of structured learning will benefit them, absent of hands-on learning to help them carve a path forward. How can we, as business leaders, support students to pave a successful path and, ultimately, improve the global workforce?
Unlock Work-Based Learning
Work-based learning is a hands-on method for students to learn about postsecondary education and careers. Through this instructional strategy, students have the opportunity to learn about different career opportunities, and they can explore new pathways for gaining industry experience, skills and necessary credentials.
Educators and industry leaders can collaborate on partnerships, programs and practical opportunities to expand learning beyond the classroom.
To truly understand what unique talents, passions and skills students have, it is imperative that learning expand beyond the halls and walls of their school. This is a systematic change helping an entire generation of students shift their perspective on the future and find paths forward.
Narrowing The Skills Gap To Improve The Workforce
Any industry leader knows today’s workforce challenges all too well. With almost 10 million job openings across the country and nearly 6 million separations, recruitment and retention are at the top of their list. When looking at the pipeline of new workers, students graduating high school are not offering skills that match today’s industry needs.
This worsening skills gap is seen by 87% of organizations stating they currently have a skills gap or will have one within the next two to five years. The pace of change in the modern business world is pushing far beyond hurried attempts to simply retrain and upskill employees. They need skilled workers today who can perform.
Work-based learning can help narrow this skills gap through hands-on lessons, exposure to different workplace environments and dynamics and learning from—not about—different roles and industries.
A Call To Industry Leaders: Collaborate With Educators To Offer Work-Based Learning
To address workforce challenges, companies are moving beyond upskilling and retraining to double down on solidifying the talent pipeline. By reinvesting in existing work-based learning programs or beginning anew, educational collaboration is a growing component of recruitment and retention strategies.
Here are a few ways industry leaders can work together with local educational institutions to offer work-based learning.
• Participate in career days and industry awareness events.
• Implement shadowing, internship or apprenticeship programs.
• Offer workplace tours and information sessions.
Establishing and maintaining work-based learning programs doesn’t need to be hard. With software management solutions and funding opportunities, there are easy ways for any business to partner for work-based learning.
For example, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), signed into law in 2018, provides nearly $1.4 billion annually for career and technical education programs for youth and adults. This law signals the importance of growing collaboration between industry and education.
For some students, a college education is imperative to their career path, and not every student or industry may be a fit for work-based learning, such as certain specializations in the medical or legal industries, as well as highly regulated security or defense jobs.
But by being engaged in the next generation, we can begin understanding their needs today to build the pipeline for skilled workers that match the in-demand jobs of tomorrow. As industry leaders, we all hold the power to shape opportunities for students that match the skills we need in our companies.
With a new school year just around the corner, consider what opportunities your business can provide to enhance work-based learning. By creating new student pathways, we are investing in an improved workforce and stronger companies—today and in the future.
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