Technical Education – A Good Investment
Consider these numbers:
- In Florida for every 100 students who enter high school only 53 graduate three years later.
- Of that 53 high school graduates, only 32 immediately enter college.
- Of that 32 college freshmen, only 14 graduate with a bachelor's degree within six years.
- From 1969 to 1980 the number of college graduates holding jobs in positions not requiring a college degree increased from 1 million to 3.6 million.
- From 1980 to 1990, that number rose to 5.8 million and continues to rise.
- Only 23 percent of jobs in the 21st Century will require a college degree.
- 43 percent of four-year college grads are underemployed or in jobs not utilizing their degrees.
The inescapable conclusion is that the overwhelming majority of people seeking jobs today and in the future will not need a college degree, but rather will need advanced training or some sort of certification in what has been traditionally called "vocational" or "workforce" education.
Sixty percent of students entering PTEC will complete their field of study and 82 percent will be placed in the careers of their choice. PTEC places approximately 2,000 students in jobs each year with an annual impact on the local economy of more than $50 million. For additional information on the value of a PTEC education, visit the Pinellas Education Foundation website.
How to help your student set his or her career dreams in motion
Helping your student prepare for life after high school is one of the most important tasks you'll have as a parent. Here are some resources you can use to help your student make the decision that's right for him or her.
