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Why are so many Kentuckians content material with low-paying jobs? It is a query we at The Kentucky Group and Technical School System are asking ourselves after analysis confirmed that 75% of Kentucky’s undereducated adults have no real interest in pursuing schooling after highschool despite the fact that 16% of Kentuckians reside in poverty and our median annual earnings places us at forty first within the nation.
Our examine amongst potential college students reveals that one of many major challenges is the dearth of curiosity on the a part of undereducated adults to pursue any kind of postsecondary diploma. Kentucky doesn’t have a powerful college-going tradition. The state ranks close to the underside within the proportion of these age 25-plus with not less than a highschool diploma or equivalency. The identical is true for affiliate and bachelor’s levels.
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A Sept. 2021 report from the Kentucky Chamber states that at any time, there are as many as 100,000 open jobs in Kentucky, and that 65-85% of these jobs require schooling and coaching past a highschool diploma or GED.
Moreover, projected job development over the subsequent 10 years within the well being care/social providers, transportation/logistics, manufacturing and enterprise and data know-how sectors will additional enhance demand for expert employees. Present job demand and projected job development mixed with poor academic attainment and labor power participation has resulted in a workforce disaster in Kentucky, harming the productiveness of trade and deterring future investments, in keeping with the Chamber report. The scenario is much more embarrassing when taking a look at our neighboring states. Solely West Virginia has worse numbers.
In fact, our getting older inhabitants and retirements play a task in our shrinking workforce. However, if these of working age don’t have the talents and schooling as we speak’s jobs demand, Kentucky will fall even additional behind.
So, what’s holding individuals again with regards to furthering their schooling? Of the small proportion of adults who do have an curiosity in coaching and schooling, many have monetary considerations, childcare points, transportation points and lack of self-confidence.
To those people, I’d like to supply some recommendation: Name your local people faculty. School doesn’t should imply a bachelor’s diploma and it’s not only for 18-year-olds. Our 16 faculties provide numerous short-term packages that get individuals began in good careers. For many who wish to earn a level, we provide affiliate levels and have switch agreements with universities so our college students switch simply.
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And with regards to price, KCTCS faculties have the bottom tuition within the state. It’s lower than half of most universities. Moreover, about 80% of our college students obtain some kind of monetary support, and most of that’s scholarships and grants, not loans.
instance is the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship. It gives free tuition for a lot of of our packages, together with these which might be a semester or much less as much as an affiliate diploma.
There are various methods KCTCS may also help Kentuckians have a greater life and enhance workforce participation via schooling. April is Group School Month and it’s an excellent time study how Kentuckians can transfer into good careers.
Greater schooling issues, and for these seeking to enhance the lives of their households, neighborhood faculty is a superb place to start out.
Come on Kentucky! We are able to do that! Let’s get educated, get to work and get our state transferring in the suitable course!
Dr. Paul Czarapata is President or Kentucky Group and Technical School System
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