Texas Governor Greg Abbott has added “life-changing career training” high school programs to his emergency priority list, aimed at better preparing students for the workforce immediately after high school. The goal of this initiative is that by 2030, 60 percent of people between the ages of 25 and 34 can obtain a postsecondary degree or credential.
Texas faces an urgent need to prepare students for the future workforce, as nearly two-thirds of expected new jobs in the next five years will require professional training after high school. However, a large number of graduate students do not have the skills that can meet this growing demand. In this context, Governor Greg Abbott’s emergency priority list includes an additional funding boost for “life-changing career training” programs at the high school level.
In his recent State of the State address, Governor Greg Abbott talked about the importance of trade jobs, highlighting occupations such as welding, plumbing, and electrical work as among the most sought-after jobs in the market.
“High schools must provide more career training programs so that students can go directly from graduation into a good-paying job. That’s why I am making life-changing career training an emergency item,” said Abbot during his recent State of the State address.
About 63 percent of jobs in Texas will require further education or vocational training after a high school diploma by 2030, according to Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s proposed two-year state budget. However, according to Abbott’s proposal, less than 40 percent of students receive a degree or workforce credential within six years of graduating high school. On the other hand, only 32 percent of workers have the skills needed for these jobs, according to the Texas Workforce Commission’s labor market data.
Nicholas Odom, the education manager of the trade program at the Universal Technical Institute, Austin, expressed his full support for Governor Greg Abbott’s initiative.
“I think it’s a beautiful move,” Odom said. “Personally, I believe that the skilled trades in this nation, skilled trades in this state are something that’s so desperately needed.“
However, not everyone agrees with the Abbott’s approach. John Sharp, chancellor of Texas A&M University Systems, expressed skepticism that training programs should be according to the needs of the community.
Nevertheless, Governor Abbott maintains that expanding career training opportunities in schools is essential to education and success. Over the past two years, his office has provided more than $15 million in funding to support career training in high-demand industries.
Credits: (CBS Austin & Government Technology)
