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With a retiring baby boomer generation, the country is on high alert about the importance of technical education to fill a highly anticipated – and feared – skills gap.
That coupled with advancements in technology are creating a world of employment opportunities for millennials and members of Generation X that require a robust technical education.
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Amtek Company’s Rich Sykes recently sat down with RMW.org to talk the state of technical and vocational education today.
Here are some of the key points discussed:
On how employers today view vocational or technical education, as opposed to a four-year degree…
“Vocational education can be a better fit for career security and longevity because it is more specifically tailored to the job market and the needs of employers than university education. Community colleges are not held to the same state-mandated learning outcomes or course codes as universities, which means they can adapt to changes in the industry very quickly. If a new topic or trend needs to be covered within a field of study, community colleges can make that change in their curriculum within a semester or two, whereas this might take a university a few years.”
On which industries seem to be best suited for graduates of technical schools…
“You’ll often find university programs don’t cover technical skills… to the same degree as a community college. Experience at a community college is largely hands-on, so [are][/are] graduates of technical schools, which is why employers look to community colleges to fill these more technical job openings.”
On the most popular technical degree programs for students today…
“Reshoring has boosted the popularity of two-year degree programs in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and other similar technical related jobs. There’s a huge demand lately for mechatronics and electro-mechanical programs…
… Health sciences may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of technical training, but health-related fields are growing in popularity. Many vocational schools have entire buildings dedicated to nursing programs.”
