Last Spring, Tennessee lawmakers considered legislation that would allow high school students with a career and education (CTE) focus the ability to substitute up to four CTE-related courses for algebra II, chemistry, computer science, and foreign language courses.¶
The General Assembly ultimately opted to study CTE requirements instead, and next Wednesday, the Joint Advisory Committee on Innovations in K-12 Education will do just that, but the discussion comes right as new national research underscores the importance of these existing graduation courses.¶
Many four-year institutions of higher learning, including the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, list algebra II and a foreign language course in the admission requirements, along with 3 science credits, which can include biology and chemistry or physics. A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) found that Tennessee will need more students meeting these higher education admissions requirements in the coming years.¶
The report warns that the nation will need 5.25 million additional workers with postsecondary education and training by 2032, with 86 percent of those jobs requiring at least a bachelor’s degree. Researchers point to a looming skills gap as millions of older, educated workers retire in the coming years.¶
A National Workforce Challenge¶
According to the report, 18.4 million workers with postsecondary credentials are expected to retire between 2024 and 2032. At the same time, only 13.8 million younger workers with similar qualifications are projected to enter the labor market. The gap, combined with 685,000 new jobs requiring education beyond high school, adds up to a shortfall of 5.25 million workers.¶
Of those, 4.5 million, roughly 86 percent, will need at least a bachelor’s degree.¶
“Significant investment in postsecondary education and training is necessary to avoid critical skills shortages,” researchers stated in the report.¶
Tennessee’s College-Going Rates¶
The findings arrive as Tennessee continues to grapple with stagnant college-going rates. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) reported earlier this year that just 52.8 percent of public high school graduates enrolled in college in 2023, down from pre-pandemic levels.¶
State policymakers have focused on programs like Tennessee Promise and the Tennessee Direct Admissions pilot to boost enrollment, but recent data shows the state is still struggling to move more students into and through higher education pathways.¶
The Georgetown report suggests that failure to increase bachelor’s degree attainment could leave Tennessee employers without the skilled workforce they need in the coming decade.¶
Workforce Demands in Tennessee¶
The report’s projections also align with Tennessee labor market data showing growing demand for bachelor’s-level workers in health care, education, business, and technology. Many of the state’s fastest-growing occupations, including registered nurses, software developers, and financial managers, require at least a four-year degree.¶
