Photo by Craig Moore.
In 2025, America faces a serious problem: we don’t have enough skilled workers. From electricians to plumbers to welders, the people who keep our country running are in short supply. That’s where career and technical education (CTE) plays a central role — and why SkillsUSA is urging Congress to act now. SkillsUSA has established its first set of legislative priorities focused on five key areas that the organization is sharing with Congress in the coming months. As experts in CTE and career readiness education, SkillsUSA and CTE work together to help students gain real-world skills, confidence and a clear path to a successful career. Whether someone in high school is considering a career path or someone older is returning to school to learn new skills, CTE programs prepare people for jobs that are essential to our economy.
First and foremost, SkillsUSA believes that we must boost funding for CTE programs and pathways. The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) — the primary federal investment in CTE — has not kept pace with the growing demand in many communities across the country. Congress must increase funding to support real-world learning experiences, expand access in both rural and urban communities and help students stay current with the tools and technology shaping today’s workplaces.
Second, we believe it’s critical to protect CTE’s role in public education. Public high schools and community colleges are where most students encounter CTE opportunities, and we cannot allow those opportunities to erode. That means maintaining robust support for these institutions and ensuring that all learners, regardless of zip code, can access high-quality CTE programs.
Third, SkillsUSA is calling to expand access to postsecondary CTE programs that provide learners of all ages opportunities to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful — quickly and in shorter amounts of time. Yet current federal financial aid, like Pell Grants, are often out of reach for high-quality, shorter-term options. Congress should change that. We must extend Pell eligibility to CTE programs that are proven to lead to meaningful employment or further education, while also strengthening the institutions that deliver them.
Our organization also understands that in order for CTE to be successful, it must better connect with the nation’s broader public workforce development system. As Congress revisits major laws like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, now is the time to ensure that CTE is a full partner in building and sustaining talent pipelines. That includes aligning apprenticeship opportunities with CTE pathways, expanding access to supportive services like transportation and childcare, and creating clearer standards so CTE and workforce initiatives can work more cohesively to address the talent needs of the nation.
Finally, SkillsUSA’s new legislative recommendations recognize that we must also invest in the educators who make this all possible. CTE programs depend on skilled, passionate instructors — but attracting and retaining professionals from the trades into the classroom is an ongoing and persistent challenge. Congress should support policies that make CTE instruction an attractive and feasible pathway, ensure greater portability of teaching credentials and provide high-quality professional development opportunities so that the next generation of CTE instructors can thrive.
Why It Matters in 2025
The skilled trades shortage isn’t just an employer issue, a public school issue, or a SkillsUSA issue— it’s an economic imperative. Without enough trained workers, everything from American infrastructure to innovation slows down. Congress has the power to fix this by investing in the quality CTE programs that build the workforce of the future. Let’s make sure every student — no matter their age or background — has the opportunity to learn a skill, build a career, and shape the future.
Download SkillsUSA’s Legislative Priorities.
