Building a Strong Middle Class through Career Pathways Programs: Case Studies of Germany, Singapore, and Switzerland

When the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, it dismantled daily routines, the economy, and the health care system nearly overnight. The time could not be more crucial for a conversation about how to build and sustain career pathways that achieve these aims; such systems connect high-quality K-12 education with career training that leads to good jobs. There are lessons to be learned from the vocational education training (VET) systems in Germany, Singapore, and Switzerland. These countries enjoy strong academic outcomes, low youth unemployment rates, and high worker productivity and standards of living. While not without flaws, the vocational education programs in these countries are strong because they are aligned with local economic needs and are the pathway of choice for the majority of students. This report provides a brief history of career and technical education in the United States. It also presents a vision for a revamped career and technical education (CTE) system according to a five-part framework that is based on components of high-quality systems and culls lessons learned from the high-quality VET programs of Germany, Singapore, and Switzerland. Recommendations are made for federal and state governments, labor unions, and employers to implement high-quality CTE programs.