5 CTE trends to track in 2025

Key points:

What do today’s students need to know before they jump into the workforce? While the future is theirs to create, today’s career and technical education (CTE) providers are adapting to meet the moment and giving students access to opportunities to develop the skills they need to succeed.

As we head into 2025, here are five trends we can expect to see more of in the year ahead.

1. A larger focus on AI-training. Maybe this is a given. But, according to Dr. J.J. Ayers, who wrote for the Association for Career and Technical Education, not only are more teachers adopting AI in CTE programs, but there’s likely to be a heavier focus on helping students navigate these tools. Practical exercises using AI (NAF’s latest KnoPro challenge is a great example of what this could look like) or an emphasis on Future Ready Skills, such as problem solving, communication, and social awareness, that help students understand how to use AI more efficiently and the limits of language learning models will be an important anchor to prepare students for their futures.

2. CTE is growing in popularity, with an increase in digital and virtual tools. More students are showing interest in CTE programs at their schools, especially as demand for skilled workers grows across the U.S. They help to make the classroom experience more relevant, engaging, and aligned with the needs of both students–who will become our nation’s future workforce leaders–and the evolving job market, as well as preparing students who plan to go on to college. Hands-on learning will still be key, but CTE providers now have many more options for expanding access to opportunity through online learning platforms. KnoPro, a free digital tool for students 13+, provides them with the ability to participate in authentic business projects with mentorship from industry professionals and chances to win prize money.

3. Working to amplify the full continuum of work-based learning opportunities. High school is the time that the next generation of talent is making crucial decisions about their futures, making it all the more essential for them to become familiar with the world of work before landing on their choices. All students should have opportunities to explore a variety of college and career pathways and have access to the full continuum of experiences (job shadows, worksite tours, apprenticeships, internships, etc.). These experiences set them up to not only make informed career choices, but also help them build their social capital and gain economic mobility. Our outcomes-driven approach to work-based learning (ODWBL) focuses on 3 specific outcomes for students to achieve by the end of high school and helps to equip them with the aspirations, skills, and connections necessary to navigate their professional journeys and be successful in a variety of pathways.

4. More employers are considering skills-based training programs. CTE programs are likely to refocus on the development of technical AND Future Ready (or durable) Skills that employers deem necessary, as more are considering the merits of skills-based hiring. Higher education will still be necessary for many jobs, but we’re likely to see employers become more critical of whether a bachelor’s degree makes sense for a particular position –  especially with skills-based hiring being on the rise. To illustrate this point, see this recent Netflix documentary.

5. States and the federal government want more CTE programs. In recent years, states like Indiana, Idaho, and Illinois have signaled interest in making these programs more available, whether that be through legislation or calls for increased funding. Even the Senate, with a bipartisan bill, hopes to fund programs through state grants. We can only expect more and more states to join in.