Students who take career technical education courses to maintain or add to their job skills experience median wage increases of 13.6 percent, or $4,300, according to a new student performance measurement.

Statewide, total wage gains for these students measured in 2013-14 were $498 million, which benefited not only the students and their families but the California economy. Previously, these students had not been counted in state and federal accountability systems because they did not earn a certificate, degree or transfer to a four-year institution.

“These students come to us seeking to keep their skills current or move ahead in their careers and after finishing a few courses reap significant rewards,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Brice W. Harris. “A wage gain of $4,300 for courses that cost $46 a unit is a phenomenal value for students and the state.”

A new cohort definition for these students, dubbed “skills builders,” will be added next month to the California Community Colleges’ Student Success Scorecard, which provides the public with easy to read performance outcomes for all 113 community colleges.

A skills builder is a student who wants to improve their professional skills for ongoing employment. Most skills builders tend to be older and take only one or two career technical education courses.

Many students saw significant earnings gains after taking only a couple of courses. Skills builders are commonly found in fields such as administration of justice (7.7 percent median wage gain); child development education (15.7 percent gain); accounting (20.8 percent increase); fire technology (12.5 percent gain); business and commerce (25.4 percent wage gain); information technology (18.4 percent gain).

Submitted by California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office