Report: Why Career & Technical Education Holds the Key to Our Economic Future

The new report offers critical insights into the global talent gap, workforce forecasts across key industries, and how educators are using CTE to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow.

February 10, 2025

A new report drawn from research conducted by research agency Catapult X on behalf of iCEV makes the case for the importance of career and technical education (CTE) to the future economic prospects of today's students.

The Worlds Needs CTE: Why Career & Technical Education Holds the Key to Our Economic Future, points out a projected talent shortage of 85.2 million skilled workers worldwide by 2030 in critical fields, while career opportunities are expected to grow significantly in fields such as healthcare, IT, business operations, engineering, and others that require CTE skills.

The report also includes:

Insights into the global talent gap and its economic impact
Workforce forecasts across key industries including healthcare, technology and manufacturing
Perspectives from CTE leaders and educators about the challenges and opportunities they face
Actionable steps to empower students and educators to succeed

Download the report here to learn more.

Shutterstock 2187467651

Trump has signed an executive order to close the Education Department. Here’s what it says.

Screenshot 19 3 2025 145618 Www cosn org

CoSN releases National Student Data Privacy Report

CoSN releases National Student Data Privacy Report

Responding to the steady stream of headlines about data breaches in schools, the organization's report provides a roadmap for districts to build stronger, more resilient privacy policies and practices.

Screenshot 19 3 2025 145618 Www cosn org

CRPE releases report analyzing five years of pandemic impact, with strategic advice for district leaders

Center on Reinventing Public Education

The report from the Center on Reinventing Public Education drew from a wide range of research about the crisis response in K-12, recovery efforts, and ongoing challenges facing schools, while providing recommendations for districts moving forward.

Screenshot 19 3 2025 105915 Crpe org

Out-of-School Time

New AASA report shows district leaders are prioritizing summer learning

High numbers of superintendents polled said they see summer programs as important to their strategic plans, will maintain or increase spending on summer learning, and are seeing positive impacts on academic success.

Screenshot 18 3 2025 152819 Www aasa org

College and Career Readiness

Discovery Education offers free guide to improving career readiness

The guide provides school and district leaders with a comprehensive roadmap to improving students’ career readiness, as well as actionable strategies and solutions for overcoming common obstacles to workforce preparedness.

Career Readiness Guidebook Pages Images

New report: How districts in 7 states are helping chronically absent homeless kids

Nearly half of these at-risk students regularly miss class. Here are some common-sense approaches to finding and bringing them back to school.

Source: Analysis by Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan. *Note: Data retrieved from Ed, Data Express Chronic Absenteeism Rate, data group 195 and 655 and NCES Table 204. The percentage for economically disadvantaged students chronically absent is an estimate based on the number of economically disadvantaged students chronically absent divided by the total number of free and reduced price lunch eligible students in the United States. These two groups do not necessarily define economic disadvantage in the same way.

Safety and Security

School safety group releases guide to athletic event security

The free Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) white paper identifies 11 common missteps that school teams often overlook when developing and implementing safety and security policies for athletic events.

Shutterstock 444435826

Chronic absenteeism worst in kindergarten, 9th and 12th grades, state data shows

The reasons vary widely by grade. Understanding which students are missing school, and why, is essential for developing targeted solutions.

Absenteeism Map State Averages

European group houses edtech resources removed by Trump administration

The European EdTech Alliance is providing public access to dozens of research projects, guides, and other resources from ED.gov that have been taken down by Trump appointees. "This is important knowledge that needs to be shared."

Why being forced to precisely follow a curriculum harms teachers and students

Research shows that flexibility in teaching methods and curricula allows teachers and students to participate more fully in the learning process – and even promotes a more democratic society.

Shutterstock 578727106

Report: AI use by teachers and principals growing, but uneven so far

A new RAND survey found that 25 percent of teachers and nearly 60 percent of principals are using AI tools in some way, but mostly in more affluent school communities.

Survey: Gender biases persist in K-12 leadership roles

The national study, conducted by Women Leading Ed, found that women are consistently overlooked for advancement, and experience pressures, scrutiny, and expectations that most male leaders do not have to face.

Shutterstock 2169136947

CoSN releases 2025 Driving K-12 Innovation Report

The organization's annual report highlights the challenges, mega-trends, and tools that are forecast to impact education innovation in the year ahead.

Screenshot 7 2 2025 15370 Www cosn org

Page 1 of 4