CareerConnect A Strategy to Reduce the Dropout Rate

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CareerConnect A Strategy to Reduce the Dropout
Rate Increase College Participation Rate

• October 2008

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Employment Rates for the Native-Born Population
in Selected Age Groups, US and Oregon, 2000 to
2005
Teen Employment Lowest in History of Tracking
(since WWII)
Source Center for Labor Market Studies
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Percentage Point Changes in Employment Rates for
Native Born Population in Selected Age Groups,
U.S. and Oregon, 2000 to 2005
Source Center for Labor Market Studies
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Minority Youth Arent Graduating
Source Alliance for Excellent Education
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Lack of Basic Skill Proficiency
Source Alliance for Excellent Education
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Kids Disengage from School in the Summer Months
Source Connected by 25
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Why Does This Matter?

• Increasing Labor Market Demand Decreasing Labor
  Pool 2004-2014
• 165,000 replacement openingsBaby Boomer
  retirements
• 105,800 growth openings
• 19,000 job vacancies in Portland Metro 09/07
• Increasing skill requirements
• Employers report difficulty filling
  professional/technical jobs from local or state
  talent pool
• Employers complain that HS and college grads do
  not have essential basic academic and soft
  workplace skills
• 90 of jobs in region today require some level of
  post HS/GED education or vocational training
• 28 today require BA/BS
• 63 projected in 10 years to require BA/BS

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• Outcomes
• Decrease dropout rate
• Increase college participation rate

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