America's labor market presents a paradox. Although the unemployment rate is just 3.9%, there are more jobs open than people who can fill them. Nationwide, there are roughly 68 workers for every 100 open jobs. Many factors contribute to this workforce shortage, but one of the most significant is a growing skills gap -- millions of workers across…

It has become increasingly difficult to succeed in the U.S. workforce with only a high school diploma. While 75% of the middle-class workforce had only a high school education in the 1970s, that percentage dropped to below 40% by 2007. An estimated two-thirds of all jobs in 2020 will require some postsecondary training, up from just a quarter of…

Federal legislation has driven and been receptive to the vision of a rigorous, relevant career and technical education (CTE) system integrated with academics and aligned across middle school, secondary school, and postsecondary education. This article uses a social policy analysis approach to trace the history of federal CTE policy throughout the…

A swiftly rising number of American workers at every skill level are in direct competition with workers in every corner of the globe. While the United States' relative position in the world's education league tables has continued its long slow decline, the structure of the global economy has continued to evolve. If the U.S. continue on its current…

The study finds (1) that vocational-technical training taken under the GI Bill raises earning capacity more than does similar training taken under Manpower Development and Training Act (MDTA) and Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) and (2) that the earnings effect of training are significantly greater for blacks. (EM)