New poll shows strong business support for CareerTech’s skills-based training

A new statewide poll of Oklahoma business leaders underscores a resounding message: Skills-based training programs like those offered by Oklahoma CareerTech are vital to solving the state’s workforce challenges and attracting new investments to the state.

The Business Leaders Poll, which surveyed 302 Oklahoma business owners and executives, reveals persistent concerns about the availability of skilled workers and the preparation of high school graduates for today’s job market. The poll, a project of the State Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma Business Roundtable and the State Chamber Research Foundation, shines a spotlight on the essential role CareerTech plays in developing a workforce that is trained, credentialed and ready to meet the needs of employers across the state.

According to the poll, which was released last month, 85% of business leaders polled said Oklahoma CareerTech is doing a good job preparing students for workforce success, a sharp increase from 67% in 2024. However, the availability of skilled workers remains low and is the top barrier for businesses wanting to invest and expand in Oklahoma, the poll shows, highlighting a need for CareerTech to grow and serve more Oklahomans.

Key findings include the following:

• 88% of business leaders said the top barrier to investing in Oklahoma is workforce availability.
• Nearly 1 in 4 respondents (23%) said they would be hesitant to expand or invest in Oklahoma because of a lack of qualified and available workers.
• 54% of employers reported difficulty filling skilled worker vacancies, those requiring industry-recognized credentials.
• 71% believe Oklahoma high school graduates are not well-prepared for the workforce.

“These numbers speak volumes,” said Brent Haken, Oklahoma CareerTech state director. “Business leaders are telling us loud and clear: The biggest challenge to growth in Oklahoma is its people. CareerTech is uniquely positioned to deliver the hands-on, credentialed training that our workforce needs and our employers demand.”

Additional findings show more concerns:

• 46% of respondents named employee recruitment and retention as the greatest obstacle to profitability and growth.
• 43% said their top concern with Oklahoma’s workforce is finding employees with durable skills, down from 60% in 2023, indicating progress in closing the skills gap.
• 85% of respondents agreed that the state’s higher education system should do more to motivate students to pursue fields aligned with workforce demand.

Despite these concerns, a majority (67%) of business leaders support the idea of investing $25 million in a national marketing campaign to promote Oklahoma’s products and services and attract businesses, according to the poll.

“Oklahoma’s future competitiveness hinges on how well we prepare our workforce,” Haken said. “CareerTech is working every day to ensure students — whether they’re in high school, adults changing careers or companies retraining their employees — are gaining the in-demand skills that drive economic growth.”

CareerTech continues to partner with employers statewide to offer customized training, stackable credentials and work-based learning opportunities that match real-world job requirements. Oklahoma CareerTech has more than 520,000 enrollments each year in its programs. That’s more than half a million Oklahomans actively pursuing opportunities, from full-time training to CareerTech apprenticeships. That number includes high school students, adults looking to reskill, incarcerated individuals preparing to reenter society and working professionals seeking advancement.

About Oklahoma CareerTech

The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 63 campuses, 395 PK-12 school districts, 16 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult education and family literacy providers.

The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.