NJBIA Vice President Mike Wallace talks about the need to close the skills gap at the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act press conference
NJBIA today joined with Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and a host of legislators and business groups urging voters to approve the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act (Question No. 1) on Nov. 6. The bonds would benefit vocational-technical schools.
Voter approval will provide $350 million for much-needed expansion of career and technical education, labs and classrooms at county vocational-technical schools, as well as enhanced security at New Jersey schools. Another $50 million will go toward career and technical education projects at county colleges.
NJBIA believes vocational-technical schools are a critical tool in filling the pipeline of skilled workers for the future and is urging its members to vote ‘Yes’ on Public Question No. 1.
“The referendum will help fill a critical skills gap that is leaving good-paying jobs unfilled and will better satisfy the growing demand for career and technical education,” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka. “Voter approval will help curb outmigration of young adults, strengthen our workforce pipeline and help our companies expand in-state. New Jersey will get a strong return on its investment if we vote yes on Question No. 1.”
Demand is already growing for the educational opportunities vocational-technical schools provide because they can provide careers that do not require a four-year college degree and the student-loan debt that comes with it.
While vocational-technical schools are able to provide students with the necessary skills, they do not have the resources to meet the demand. In 2017, New Jersey county vocational-technical schools had to turn away nearly 17,000 applicants because there was not enough capacity at these schools to teach them.
The bond act will help address that shortfall.
2 responses to “Bond Issue for Vocational-Technical Schools Will Help Fill Skilled Labor Shortage”
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We have a State with 10’s of Billions in liabilities, and we are looking to spend another 400 mil of money we do not have. Pay down the debt’s, then look to spend on other causes.
Career and technical education programs are critical to the growth and success of our economy.
Not every family can afford to provide college education to their children. Not every student should feel compelled to takeout student loans to finance a traditional 4 year college education. The fact of the matter is there are plenty of career opportunities that do not require a college degree.
Technical school is an alternative; technical skills are obtained in one of two ways (1) experience through on-the-job training or (2) taught through educational programs (which also provide hands-on-experience).
Trade schools produce skilled workers ready, willing and capable of holding jobs in high wage, high skill, high demand career fields.
So many disciplines that are critical to our growth and vital in keeping our nation competitive are in short supply. I have waited weeks, sometime months,to hire licensed electricians and plumbers. I have searched endlessly for general contractors with adequate experience for medium size construction jobs. I have little success in finding any person, or company interested in small construction projects of simple repair projects…why? Supply and demand – [they] have more work available to them then they know what to do with. I say good for them, they are successful, they create jobs and run prosperous companies. Less then 20% hold college degrees and many out-earned their college educated peers.
But, now my gripe with technical schools.
Of all the programs offered at most technical schools: Agricultural Science, Carpentry, Electrical Construction, Plumbing Technology, Welders, (just to name a few). These trades, which are vital in keeping our nation competitive in the global economy have the smallest budget ! ?
The largest funded programs; Performing Arts: Dance and Theater Arts. really