Throughout February, Oregon鈥檚 community colleges will spotlight career and technical education (CTE) programs in recognition of National CTE Month.
Joining the Exchange to offer more insight are Dave Koehler, Dean of Instruction at , and Abby Lee, Executive Director of the .
CTE programs at community colleges are tailored to address the specific needs of local communities, ensuring students gain the training necessary to meet the demands of regional industries. By offering targeted, hands-on education, Oregon鈥檚 community colleges are key to filling critical workforce gaps and supporting economic growth. According to a 2023 economic impact report from Lightcast, a national labor market analysis firm, Oregon鈥檚 community colleges generated $9.6 billion for the state economy in fiscal year 2021-22, supporting 117,970 jobs 鈥� that鈥檚 one in every 22 jobs in Oregon.
Recently, a bond that would have given RCC more than $60 million to support their technical programs failed in the 2024 general election. The college was hoping to use that to expand their CTE program, which now has greater demand than supply.
