RESEARCH

The goal of K-12 education is to give students a foundation to enter the workforce or pursue higher education. So, are Tennessee graduates ready for the real world? Despite a record high graduation rate, the unfortunate reality is that nearly seven out of 10 recent Tennessee graduates feel traditional high school failed to prepare them for a job. Nationally, 82 percent of Americans believe K-12 public education is not preparing students for the modern workforce.

Tennessee has seen a boom in high-tech and high-skilled jobs arriving in the state. In recent years, Oracle, xAI, Amazon, and Google have all made investments in the Volunteer State. In Middle Tennessee, job growth in tech has reached an estimated 18 percent from 2022 to 2027, exceeding national tech growth and overall job growth by seven percent each. But job opportunities are not only in the tech sector, with skilled trades facing a shortage in available workers. Despite increasing job opportunities, in industries like tech and the trades, a skills gap exists. Consequently, fewer than 27 percent of business leaders believe that there is an ample supply of locally trained workers for their employment needs.

Tennessee needs to set its future on a clear path and meet the needs of the modern workforce. While K-12 education has taught students, for example, the important fact that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, Tennessee students feel they’re not being prepared to be the powerhouse of the state’s economy. K-12 education must strive to better equip students with the knowledge and skills to enter the workforce or pursue higher education in a field that allows them to earn a living without being burdened by immense student loan debt. Tennessee is doing well in providing Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities to students, but policymakers should recognize that improvements can be made.