Forbes magazine recently published a compelling article, 3 Ways The Skills Gap Offers Opportunity, about the state and evolution of the workforce for skilled workers. The article aims to dispel the myth that a four-year degree is the optimal path to a prosperous future, reminding readers, for example that, “today around 13 million Americans, many with college degrees, are unemployed, and that does not include those who are underemployed or have given up trying to find work. Yet, nearly five million jobs remain unfilled. Jobs in advanced manufacturing, electrical trades, jobs in healthcare and cyber-security to name just a few.”
The economy needs more skilled workers, who gain mastery through hands-on work and via vocational and technical training. The article further points out how the path of vocational and technical training might best be navigated, and how that path helps people avoid the often immense debt associated with a four-year college degree, while also providing “real world,” industry recognized skills in a hands-on context.
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If you teach in an ag classroom, you know your students are as diverse as they come. Students may be drawn to agriculture because of family history or a love of animals, but what they learn in the classroom has the power to transform in ways we haven’t thought of yet. Students who study agriculture go on to careers ranging from biotechnology to machinists and engineers. No other field of study has such broad implications. What do students need to master to be successful in ag-related careers? We’ve developed a list of the essential subject matter for ag students:
What subject matter is a must-have for your agriculture education programs? Let us know in the comment section! Moss can help you enhance your agriculture programs – see our Agriculture Education page for more information. When you hear the word “manufacturing,” what images does it conjure up? If you are like most, you have visions of dirty, unsafe construction floors where people repeat the same function all day long, day after day. If this is what you see, you may need to update your image: manufacturing as cleaner and more high-tech than ever before. And manufacturing is driving the nation’s economy forward. According to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. manufacturing companies added a substantial 29,000 new jobs in January this year alone.
Manufacturing jobs are plentiful, but the face of these jobs is changing. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for candidates with an advanced skill set. These are skills that educators can ensure their students possess before they graduate and join the workforce. Certain skills will ensure students are marketable, and that their skills will allow them to be successful on their first day of a new job. What Employers Want to Share with Educators:
Get employers to compete for your students. In order to connect your classroom with “real world” learning opportunities, you need to have the proper tools in place. Moss has training and certification tools to ensure your students will be successful during their next phase. These tools are appropriate for both technical high schools and colleges. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation with an Education Specialist. “You go into high school and everyone is talking to you about, well, you have got to go to college to be successful and you have to go to a four-year university, you will be nothing without a bachelor’s degree. It really puts so much pressure on your shoulders to do well at everything you do. And in high school, that was a really hard thing to deal with.” - Keihen Kitchen, student Like many students, Kitchen was looking for real, hands-on career opportunities. She was encouraged to attend a four-year university when a two-year technical school gave her the opportunities and the skills she needed for success in the engineering field.
She found an ideal program for her needs at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, a school that uses Amatrol to teach industry-ready skills. They work closely with the local industries when developing coursework, and turned to Amatrol for the programs that aligned with the needs of the local workforce. Students like Kitchen are benefiting from being job ready with a two-year degree. Community Colleges and Technical Schools are filling an important niche in today’s workforce by offering targeted skills training programs that align with local business need. It’s a win-win for students and local industry alike. When the right curriculum is in place, whether welding programs, skills training or otherwise, students join the workforce prepared for the local job market. Students know they have stackable credentials, and employers can feel confident in the knowledge base of their new hires. Remind students that there are many paths to success. Read the full transcript of the program here: |
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