As we continue to celebrate CTE month, we should not forget about  the potential that high-quality afterschool and summer programs have to help youth develop the skills needed to successfully fill the skills gap.  Alli Lidie, the policy and communications coordinator at  New York State Afterschool Network , an organization that advocates on behalf of youth and families and provides resources to improve the quality of existing afterschool programs, shares advice and resources.

By guest blogger Alli Lidie

In the United States, there is a large and ever-widening gap between the skills unemployed individuals possess and those that companies need to fill vacancies. While the skills gap is an issue that extends far beyond New York State, a 2013 report by America's Edge New York, "Ensuring the Capital Region's Global Success," highlighted the Capital Region as a particularly clear example of this gap. Despite high rates of unemployment, an alarming 82 percent of local manufacturers struggle to find qualified employees. These middle-skill positions, many with a STEM-focus, require workers with some post-secondary education but not a four-year college degree and have a median income of almost $77,000. These should be appealing options for youth to consider. So, what can be done to get them interested?

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By Guest Blogger on  February 17, 2015 12:23 PM