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Computer Field And Technical Education Programs

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The lack of qualified employees in computer and technology fields is a perplexing issue for the United States as it strives to stay competitive in a global economy. According to an article by the Bureau of National Affairs, two of the top three toughest jobs to fill are technology related (Bureau of National Affairs, 2012, p. 6). Although there are many theories as to why more students are not choosing to major in some type of computer field, resolutions to this problem are slow in developing. Could a solution be emerging from career and technical education programs? In 2012 Microsoft Corporation sponsored a study that estimated the U.S. creates 120,000 new computer science jobs each year. Colleges and universities, however, are only graduating 49,000 students per year with degrees to fill those positions. This gap has companies scrambling to find qualified personnel and many are turning to foreign workers using the H1-B Visa program (Beach, 2013, p. 3). With 7.9 million Americans unemployed, this is not a popular choice and creates a potential image problem for companies (United States Department of Labor, 2015). Once considered a dumping ground for students who could not handle a typical high school curriculum, career and technical education has progressed over the last 30 years. Now, students from a variety of academic levels enroll in CTE programs (Hoachlander, 2008, p. 25). Additionally, pathways once considered specific to a certain gender are being

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