For over a century, the United States has been celebrating the Federal holiday of Labor Day to honor the contributions and achievements of America’s workforce to the country’s economic health and growth. At the same time, Labor Day has come to represent the unofficial end of summer with many school districts beginning the new school year after this day.
Although the holiday has become less about celebrating the worker with parades and picnics and more of an opportunity for retailers to grab those last carefree summer dollars, the original intention of the holiday and its juxtaposition with the start of a new year of learning is not lost on us.
The workforce is what keeps our country moving forward. The more people we have in the workforce, the more we produce, innovate, and flourish as a nation. And while we are enjoying a record high number of people in the workforce, there is still a need to ensure that this trend continues in the future; a future that no doubt includes occupations that have yet to even come into existence.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the future looks bright for the health care and clean energy industries, but on the flip side, manufacturing jobs are projected to decline. The need for both hard and soft skills in the industry is prevalent and, with constant advances in technology, most growing occupations will require some form of education and/or training beyond high school. If young people can’t make the connections between their classroom learning and the workplace, especially those hailing from underserved communities, they will certainly fall through the cracks.
Education is the key to ensuring that the next generation has the skill set needed to fill tomorrow’s jobs. Our future leaders can be found in today’s high school classrooms and, in a few short years, will make the transition into the workplace. They will become heads of the boardroom and pioneers of new industries. Current executives need to start developing the talent when young people are making crucial decisions about their future — while they are still in high school.
For nearly 40 years, NAF has worked with traditional high schools and districts to transform the learning environment to align with the skills required for prospering in the workforce. NAF’s educational design ignites students’ passion, answering the age-old question, “Why do I need to know this?” Through STEM infused, industry-specific curricula and work-based learning experiences, including internships, students can see the link between their education and their futures, helping them to make better decisions about what they want to do with their lives.
What we’ve found is that the traditional educational experience is not enough. Business must integrate with education to create the pipeline of workers we need to ensure America’s workforce reflects the culture, diversity, innovative thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit that our country thrives on.
This Labor Day, as we take the time to rest and prepare for the new school year, perhaps we can think about the contributions of our current workforce and also consider ways to close the skills gap and ensure that the next generation is future ready. Our world depends on it.