A National Need — and Opportunity
Across the United States, industries are facing a widening skills gap. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in 2024, there are more than 8.8 million job openings but only 6.5 million unemployed workers to fill them — with shortages most acute in skilled trades, manufacturing, and technical sectors.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) projects that by 2030, the U.S. will face a shortage of over 2.1 million manufacturing workers, potentially costing the economy $1 trillion annually in lost output.
Meanwhile, students and families are reevaluating the return on investment of traditional four-year degrees. A 2024 Federal Reserve report indicates that the average student loan debt in 2024 stands at $39,981 per borrower, and Strada Education Foundation reports that only about 27% of college graduates are employed in a field related to their major within five years of graduation.
These forces are driving a renaissance in CTE programs — not only in traditional trades like welding, electrical, and carpentry, but across modern pathways including robotics, clean energy, healthcare, logistics, and digital design.
The “Tool Belt Generation” is no longer an emerging idea — it’s a national imperative.
The Power of Partnerships
This is where collaboration between education and industry must expand — intentionally and strategically.
Forward-thinking school districts, charter networks, and education associations are developing local, regional, and national partnerships with businesses, utilities, manufacturers, and trade organizations to ensure a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers.
Examples are emerging across the country:
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CareerWise Colorado offers three-year apprenticeships in IT, healthcare, and skilled trades, blending academic coursework with real-world employment — redefining the relationship between schools and businesses.
These models demonstrate how education can adapt to labor market needs while offering students clear, purpose-driven pathways to success.
Why School Business Officials Play a Key Role
For the ASBO International community, these partnerships are not just about curriculum innovation — they’re about fiscal strategy and long-term sustainability.
As budgets evolve and staffing pressures mount, cooperative purchasing organizations have become vital partners in the modernization of education.
National and regional cooperatives such as Sourcewell, E&I Cooperative Services, BuyQ, AEPA, BuyBoard, ACSI, and others provide compliant, competitively bid contracts that enable districts to save time and money while focusing resources where they matter most — student programs and learning environments.
These cooperative networks also strengthen supplier relationships and improve transparency, allowing districts to fund CTE labs, STEM resources, and workforce development initiatives that align directly with community and industry needs.
The Importance of Local Leadership and School Boards
As decision-making authority becomes increasingly localized, school boards and administrators are taking on greater influence over curriculum priorities and spending. With the U.S. Department of Education’s role evolving, many key funding and program decisions now rest with state and local governance.
At the same time, school choice continues to reshape the education landscape. Charter schools, private schools, and faith-based institutions are competing for enrollment — and that competition is driving innovation. Districts are responding by investing in programs that differentiate them from their peers: strong CTE and workforce partnerships are among the most impactful.
The message is clear: the future of education will be written locally, through collaboration among educators, business leaders, and community stakeholders.
The future of education is not about choosing between college and career — it’s about expanding choice and aligning learning with the realities of the workforce.
To achieve that, businesses, utilities, manufacturers, and education leaders must see themselves as co-authors of the same story. Apprenticeships, internships, dual-credit programs, and cooperative purchasing aren’t isolated strategies — they’re all pieces of a unified effort to prepare the next generation of talent.
Our nation’s economic future depends on it. The “Tool Belt Generation” is no longer an emerging idea — it’s a national imperative.
And as someone who has spent 38 years helping shape partnerships between schools, suppliers, and cooperatives, I can say this with confidence: the most powerful innovations happen when education and industry pull in the same direction.