Each February, National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month offers an opportunity to highlight how education and workforce systems work together to prepare Americans for success.
As the nation advances America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age, CTE stands out as one of the most effective tools for connecting learners to opportunity, employers to talent, and communities to economic growth. It is also an urgent undertaking, as the U.S. labor market is projected to face a shortage of 2.1 million workers by 2030, unless we act.
The Trump Administration is delivering the necessary reforms to bolster our talent pipeline and strengthen the workforce. Under the steadfast leadership of Secretaries Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Linda McMahon, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education see CTE not as a separate track, but as the keystone of a modern talent system that aligns academic and technical skills with labor market demand and prepares individuals for both immediate employment and long-term career advancement.
Across the country, CTE programs serve millions of secondary and postsecondary learners each year, offering rigorous academic instruction alongside technical and employability skills. Research consistently shows that students who participate in CTE are more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in postsecondary education or training, and earn credentials aligned with in-demand careers. In fact, an Arkansas study found that CTE concentrators were 21% more likely to graduate high school than their peers.
CTE concentrators earn industry-recognized credentials at significantly higher rates than their peers, and many complete postsecondary coursework or credentials while still in high school. These outcomes matter not only for students and families, but also for employers seeking workers with verified skills who are ready to contribute on day one. From advanced manufacturing and health care to information technology, construction, transportation, and education, CTE programs are closely aligned to sectors critical to national economic competitiveness and security.
A defining strength of CTE is its alignment to real labor market needs. States and local communities design programs of study in partnership with employers, workforce boards, and industry leaders to ensure that coursework, credentials, and work-based learning programs reflect current and emerging demand.
This alignment is essential at a time when the nation faces persistent workforce shortages in key industries, rapid technological change, and increasing demand for workers with both technical and transferable skills. CTE helps close the gap between education and employment by preparing learners for high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand careers that support economic growth.
The impact of CTE is amplified through the strong partnership between the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the Department of Education and the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at the Department of Labor. Through co-administration of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), OCTAE and ETA work together to support seamless pathways from secondary education to postsecondary education, registered apprenticeships, workforce training, and employment.
The partnership promotes alignment of CTE programs with workforce strategies and sector partnerships; integration of work-based learning, including youth-serving registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships; employer engagement in program design and delivery; and use of labor market data to improve program quality and outcomes. By coordinating policy, funding, and technical assistance, OCTAE and ETA help states and local communities build one connected talent system, rather than separate education and workforce silos.
America’s Talent Strategy is about ensuring the United States has the skilled workforce needed to compete globally, strengthening supply chains, supporting innovation, and expanding opportunity for workers and employers alike. CTE expands the talent pipeline by engaging learners early, offering multiple pathways to success, and accelerating entry into postsecondary education and careers. Expanding registered apprenticeships, which directly support President Trump’s goal of reaching one million active apprentices nationwide, is a core element of the strategy.
CTE supports lifelong learning by providing stackable credentials and clear on ramps to further education and training. And it helps employers grow talent locally, reducing reliance on external labor markets. In short, CTE delivers what America’s Talent Strategy demands: relevance, flexibility, alignment, and results.
During National CTE Month 2026, we celebrate the educators, employers, workforce professionals, and state and local leaders who make career-connected learning possible every day. More importantly, we reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening CTE as a cornerstone of the nation’s education and workforce systems. By continuing to align education with labor market demand, and by deepening the OCTAE–ETA partnership, we can ensure that every learner has access to pathways that lead to opportunity and that every employer has access to the talent needed to grow and compete. Career and Technical Education is not just preparing students for jobs — it is building America’s talent future for the Golden Age.
Dr. Henry Mack is the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training at the U.S. Department of Labor. Nick Moore is the Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
(Featured Image Media Credit: US Department of Education)
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