High schoolers are earning career credentials, but most have no value

High school students are earning career credentials in greater numbers than ever before, writes Patrick O'Donnell on The 74. But there are "massive mismatches between the credentials students are earning and what employers seek."

South Tech High School near St. Louis offers auto repair and other career classes.

According to Credentials Matter, only one of every eight career credentials leads to higher pay.

Employers value Microsoft Office Specialist certifications, or nursing, electrical and commercial drivers’ licenses, researchers say. They're looking for young people with technical certificates in auto repair, construction or welding.

But "over a quarter of all high school credentials only provide workplace readiness skills such as digital and financial literacy," writes O'Donnell.

States are encouraging schools to add career classes, but few recommend only credentials with labor-market value, reports Advance CTE. Students often spend time in classes without knowing whether companies are hiring in that field, what credentials are required or what pay they might earn. “Credentials that don’t lead to viable employment opportunities fail to open doors for students, leaving them unprepared for the realities of the job market and potentially dead-end opportunities.”

"The ultimate goal — tracking the jobs students land and how much they earn after receiving a given credential — is still difficult for states," writes O'Donnell. Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota and South Dakota are the only states able to look at that data, Advance CTE reported.

Ohio does a good job of identifying the most valuable credentials and informing students, says the Credentials of Value report. But low achievers are earning less rigorous, low-value credentials to qualify for a diploma.

Most Ohio students are earning OSHA safety, CPR and retail and customer service certificates of little value, while only 16 percent earn high-value certificates. Cleveland students are especially likely to use RISE UP customer service and retail skills certificates, which require no workplace training, to satisfy graduation requirements, writes Fordham's Jessica Poiner. There is little or no employer demand.

In neighboring Parma, Chuck Caldwell, who heads district CTE programs, said several local stores, including Wal Mart and Target, pay students with the RISE UP credentials $1 more per hour, writes O'Donnell. It can be a building block for higher-level jobs. But the district is steering more students to Microsoft Office training.