By Brent Haken
CareerTech ready to embrace Trump’s commitment to career training
In a fast-changing economy, one thing remains constant: the value of skills. Whether it’s advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology or the skilled trades, the need for trained professionals has never been greater.
That’s why recent executive orders issued by President Trump that emphasize career training and workforce development are not only timely, they are essential.
Trump's orders to modernize America’s workforce programs call for federal investments in workforce development and apprenticeship expansions. Oklahoma CareerTech would play a starring role in the president’s plan because CareerTech is the state’s hub for registered apprenticeships. We customize apprenticeship programs for employers’ specific needs and provide tailored experiences for apprentices.
Trump’s plan would support more than 1 million apprenticeships per year.
These orders signal a renewed federal commitment to the belief that a four-year degree isn’t the only path to success. By prioritizing career and technical education, apprenticeships and skills-based hiring, the administration is underscoring what many of us in CareerTech have known all along: Opportunity is built on training, and training must reflect the real-world needs of business and industry.
CareerTech can and should play a key role in a growing skills-based economy.
Here in Oklahoma, CareerTech is already leading the way. With more than half a million enrollments annually across our technology centers, K-12 programs, adult education and business and industry training, we see every day how practical, hands-on education transforms lives and drives local economies.
President Trump’s focus on aligning education with workforce demands mirrors our mission at CareerTech: to prepare Oklahomans to succeed in their careers and strengthen our state’s economy. His executive orders call for streamlining the pathways from education to employment, expanding apprenticeships and supporting skills-based hiring in the federal workforce. These are ideas we’ve embraced in Oklahoma, and we stand ready to help lead the charge nationally.
Oklahoma is regularly recognized by other states for having one of the best CareerTech systems in the nation. That’s because we’ve built a reputation for being inclusive and breaking through silos that traditionally separate the academic subjects from the skills and knowledge provided by career and technical education.
As state and national leaders work together to rethink the role of education in economic development, Oklahoma CareerTech is committed to staying ahead of the curve. We’re building stronger partnerships with industry, adapting curriculum to meet emerging needs and expanding access to training across rural and urban communities alike.
In short, the message is clear: America needs a workforce that is ready to work - and ready to lead. Career training is no longer a secondary option. It is central to our nation’s future.
We welcome this national focus on skills and look forward to working alongside leaders in Washington and across the country to ensure every American has the opportunity to build a rewarding, in-demand career.
For more information about CareerTech programs and where to find them in Oklahoma, go to oklahoma.gov/careertech.
Brent Haken is the state director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
