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Secretary of Labor Announces Career Voyages Web Site
Electronic tool will help bridge gap between education and workforce
skills
WASHINGTON—Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today launched
the Career Voyages Web Site at a High School Leadership Summit
in Washington, D.C. The result of collaboration between the
Department of Labor and the Department of Education, the web
site is part of a larger, more comprehensive effort to link
the educational community with the world of work.
“Every worker needs a strong academic foundation in secondary
school and an array of alternatives for post-secondary education
and training to ensure they gain the skills necessary to succeed
in today’s economy,” said Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
“Career Voyages helps young people learn about the high
growth industries where many opportunities await them, and employers
find the skilled workers they need to keep our country strong
and competitive.”
The new web site features detailed information about the fastest
growing industries and occupations, the skills and education
required to prepare for them, job openings by area, and wages,
licensing requirements and growth rates for numerous occupations.
Although some career paths described on the web site require
a four-year degree, Career Voyages expands post-secondary opportunities
to include on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs for
skilled trades, and two-year professional degree programs at
community colleges that lead to promising careers.
“This groundbreaking web site helps ‘bridge the
gap’ between education and employment skills,” said
Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for employment
and training. “As the 21st century economy unfolds, education
and workforce training must coalesce to provide a continuum
of opportunity for America’s youth and transitioning workers
to prepare for good jobs at good wages with career pathways.”
Announcement of the Career Voyages web site was made at the
Department of Education’s High School Leadership Summit
at the Washington Hilton and Towers. Attended by education leaders
and educators, the summit increases the visibility of the challenges
facing America’s high schools as well as addresses solutions
and “next steps” needed to tackle those challenges.
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