As the demands of the workforce evolve, so too must the ways we prepare learners. Today’s careers are increasingly complex, multidimensional, and interdisciplinary; however, our pathways remain static and siloed. The future of work will be unlikely combinations of skills and sectors. For example, a student in a construction pathway may participate in projects that combine their passion for environmental science and graphic design along with their construction courses. Success in this dynamic landscape requires a robust foundation of adaptable skills, a lifelong learning mindset, and technical expertise that spans traditional career pathways.
The good news is that there are already up-to-date, foundational structures in place to support learners in this dynamic skills landscape. One of those tools is Advance CTE’s National Career Clusters® Framework, used by career-focused programs nationwide to identify and sequence industry-aligned skill-building based on 14 Career Clusters organized by industry sector.
The article was co-written by Mason Pashia, Getting Smart, and guest contributor Stacy Whitehouse, Advance CTE.
