Career Technical Education (CTE) is more popular than ever, both as a valuable educational experience and as an effective lever for education and workforce policy. However, there is work to be done to increase national enrollment and communicate CTE as an accessible, beneficial opportunity that enhances college and career outcomes for every learner.
What motivates adults from Baby Boomers to Gen Z to be interested in CTE for themselves or a learner in their life? How do those motivations and messages differ across generations?
This session shared findings from three years of research on adult perceptions of CTE in the United States conducted by Advance CTE in partnership with Edge Research. The session also shared the latest perceptions trends, what messages and benefits of CTE that resonate with prospective learners and families across generations, and live reactions from state leaders and learners.
Speakers:
Jessica Devall, Business Education Supervisor, North Dakota CTE North Dakota FBLA State Chair
Kaidence Hase, 2025-2026 FBLA Collegiate State Vice President 2023-2024 FBLA High School National Mountain Plains Vice President
Quentin Kelly, Louisiana SkillsUSA State Director
Oviya Senthil, UCSD student and former SkillsUSA National President
Stacy Whitehouse, Associate Director Communications, Advance CTE
