During February, CareerForce draws attention to the many opportunities available to high school students to prepare for employment through a combination of classroom instruction and hands on learning.
What is Career and Technical Education?
Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses integrate core academic knowledge with technical and occupational knowledge and skills to provide students a pathway to postsecondary education and careers.
Many Minnesota high school students are hired right out of high school after completing CTE classes. Others lay a strong foundation for postsecondary education through CTE classes in high school.
In Minnesota, CareerForce engages in CTE in various ways. Leading CareerForce partner Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shares information to help students explore career options and find out what kind of education and training is required for their career path of interest. CareerForce staff reach out to CTE instructors and students to share information about local employment opportunities and to work together on career exploration events large and small. And CareerForce staff can help guide people in exploring available CTE opportunities to help determine what might be the best option.
Discover which career cluster fits you best
There is newly updated CTE content on CareerOneStop.org. You can view career clusters that are grouped by related careers that require similar skills and knowledge. When you gain work experience and credentials within a cluster, those skills can help you advance in a variety of related careers. Visit CareerOneStop to find out more and make sure to check out videos to find out which clusters interest you the most.
Research from DEED’s Labor Market Information Office explores which CTE course topics lead to higher wages, how educational attainment pathways after high school vary by CTE course topic and which industries employ CTE participants after high school.
CTE month social media graphics:
Learn more about CTE
