California preparing students for “workforce of tomorrow”

California Construction News staff writer

Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order last week to promote hands-on learning and careers in skilled trades, green energy, and healthcare sectors.

A master plan for career education must be approved by Oct. 1, 2024. Newsom called it a commitment to the middle class and people without college degrees.

Additionally, the executive order directs the state to take further steps to reduce barriers to state employment — including college degrees unnecessary to job duties.

“We’re creating more pathways and opportunities for California’s students to succeed and have high-paying careers,” Newsom said. “Our commitment is bringing hands-on learning to classrooms across the state to prepare our kids and workers for the jobs of the future.”

The executive order directs state leaders in education, workforce development, and economic development to work collaboratively with leaders of the state’s public education systems and employers — along with legislative partners and stakeholders representing diverse students, parents, education professionals, labor, business, and community groups — to develop a Master Plan on Career Education.

All students, beginning at the start of high school, will be encouraged to discover and explore good-paying, fulfilling and long-lasting careers—including those that do and do not require college degrees—and be guided to pathways to those careers. Students and workers will have multiple opportunities to “learn by doing,” especially via paid earn-and-learn opportunities and be trained in real-life skills that can be certified and reflected on academic records.

“All families, students, and workers deserve the freedom to succeed: to build real-life skills and pursue careers — including those that don’t require college degrees,” Newsom said. “California is leveraging billions of dollars in investments to prepare students and workers for good-paying, long-lasting, and fulfilling careers.”