Business Leaders Identify California's Biggest Skills Gaps in New Report

Cite Linked Learning as effective strategy to develop workforce, but only available in 1 of 4 public high schools

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Business leaders and education administrators released a report today urging support for an education approach that can help address significant skills gaps in many career fields in California, ranging from nursing to information technology.  

Speaking at a press conference at Siemens mobility headquarters, Brian Dowd of Granite Construction, Becky Johnson with Siemens Industry and Ryan Loofbourrow of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership released a report by the national business leader organization, America's Edge, which found significant skills gaps in the Sacramento region and throughout the state.

According to the report, titled "Can California Compete? Reducing the Skills Gap and Building a Skilled Workforce through Linked Learning," nearly half (47 percent) of California jobs are in "middle skills" occupations – requiring education beyond a high school diploma but less than a 4-year college degree. The report estimates that only 38 percent of California workers have the skills to fill these positions, creating a nearly 10-percentage-point skills gap. When coupled with a shortage of workers with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, the business leaders voiced concern about California's competitive viability in a global marketplace.

Just six years ago, California was 14th in the United States in recent bachelor's degrees awarded in science and engineering. Today the Golden State ranks 45th in the nation.

"California's education system is not keeping up with the education needs for today's and tomorrow's careers," said Dowd, Valley Area Manager for Granite Construction. "As an employer seeking a highly talented workforce, I think it's important that young people understand what it takes to be career-ready. Exposing them to career options early and helping to direct their path is vital to building that workforce."

The business leaders called on state lawmakers to support Linked Learning, a high school-based education approach that helps equip students with the specific skills California businesses seek and which will fuel the state's economic recovery and long-term growth.

Opt-in Linked Learning programs — often referred to as "schools within schools" — integrate rigorous academics with career-relevant technical education and incorporate hands-on experience with employers to prepare participating students for success in both postsecondary education and their future careers.

The state maintains approximately 500 California Partnership Academies (CPA), a popular model of Linked Learning. Yet, not only do just one in four public high schools in California use the Linked Learning approach, state funding for more than one-third of CPAs is scheduled to sunset in 2012.  As a result, more than 21,000 students would likely lose access to valuable programs that prepare them for college and career. Established CPAs currently receive approximately $80,000 per academy from the state.

The business leaders urged lawmakers to preserve funding for these opportunity-creating programs.

"America's Edge is calling on the California Legislature to protect this funding," said Loofbourrow. "Through Linked Learning we can strengthen the state's economic recovery, and help ensure that today's students enter the workforce with the skills our businesses need."

State Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) has demonstrated his support for such programs through recent legislation that would create additional CPAs in the green- and clean-technology sector.

"If more of our high school graduates are going to succeed as skilled members of an innovative workforce, they have to be better prepared not only for college but for training in technical fields as well," Steinberg said. "We start by changing what gets taught and how it gets taught in our high schools, while ensuring our system of public school accountability rewards preparation for college and career."

County-by-county data is available on (1) the percentage of high schools applying the Linked Learning approach and (2) the number of high schools whose state Linked Learning funding is expected to expire in 2012.

To obtain a copy of the full report, please visit www.americasedge.org

America's Edge is a national nonprofit business leader organization whose members work to strengthen businesses and the economy through proven investments in children and youth.

SOURCE America's Edge