A Diploma That Counts: Developing Marketable Skills for Today's Workforce

Communities In Schools believes "every child needs and deserves a marketable skill to use upon graduation." To address this issue, the organization convened the Marketable Skills Advisory Group (MSAG) and developed resource materials to

• Educate community organizations and stakeholders about issues related to marketable skills, and the history of the CIS Marketable Skills project
• Answer key questions facing communities, practitioners and policy makers
• Provide current statistics and graphics that illustrate current trends
• Provide links to practical resources

In communities across America, there is a pending crisis in the pipeline of young people moving from schools to jobs. This crisis is based on three realities: labor shortage, skills gap, and education gap.

Changing demographics and workplace expectations are dramatically affecting how communities connect young people with opportunities to prepare for successful and meaningful employment. This study provides suggestions for addressing these challenges.

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Sources:
bls.gov/opub/working/home.htm ("Working in the 21st Century" slide show/chart book - US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics)
asbj.com/2004/11/1104coverstory.html ("Remaking High School" - American School Board Journal, November 2004)