ENID, OK - Governor Kevin Stitt declared February Career and Technical Education Appreciation Month, recognizing the educators, administrators and partners of the Oklahoma CareerTech system who make a significant impact on workforce development. The ongoing workforce shortage is a challenge for companies across the nation, and Oklahoma is no exception. But, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technical Education Director Brent Haken reminds Oklahoma businesses struggling to find skilled, reliable and qualified workers to look no further than their local technology center for help.
“Now more than ever, Oklahoma businesses are in need of highly skilled, trained workers,” said Haken. “Oklahoma CareerTech is built as a solution for workforce. Our system prepares students for work and equips businesses with the workforce they need to succeed, helping keep Oklahoma’s economy moving forward.”
In fiscal year 2022, Oklahoma CareerTech served approximately 6,670 businesses and had nearly half a million enrollments statewide, preparing students for the workforce and providing credentialing and certificates for many critical occupations in the state. This includes more than 18,000 industry-endorsed certificates earned by CareerTech students in fiscal year 2021.
“We are constantly challenged with meeting the needs of our industry partners, which includes training the next generation of our local workforce,” said Dwight R. Hughes, Autry Tech CEO/Superintendent. “Our local economy depends on the services we can offer as we believe our business thrives when our community thrives.”
Oklahoma CareerTech’s reputation goes well beyond state boarders, as it is often used as an example at the national level of how CareerTechs should work with industry to design courses that meet the needs of local businesses.
CareerTech’s 29 technology centers operate on 59 campuses throughout the state, including Autry Tech’s presence in Garfield County. In FY22, Autry Tech had more than 23,000 enrollments and served more than 500 industry partners campuswide. To adapt to the needs of the local economy, it also added new programs including Culinary Arts, Computerized Machining (CNC Machining) and Diesel Technology.
Hiring CareerTech graduates gives businesses an advantage, as they can quickly onboard a highly skilled worker who already has hands-on experience in their industry. In a new video launched to kick off Career and Technical Education Month, industry partners, state leaders and economic development professionals weighed in on what it is like to work with Oklahoma’s CareerTech system. To watch the video, visit the OK CareerTech Youtube page.
Autry Technology Center has been a part of the Enid community since 1967 and is one of 29 CareerTech schools across Oklahoma. The center has more than 25 career programs and offers a wide variety of evening and weekend short-term courses and certifications for many diverse career fields. Autry Tech serves nearly 16,000 individuals each year, including many area employees who receive training through the Workforce Development Department that works with over 500 local businesses each year.
