Community Education program brochures Metro North ABE Consortium Newslette, Summer 2019 | Page 4

The worker we need now: ABE and College
“College student” means much more now than it did
when a small number of high school graduates attended
a post-secondary institution. Since that time, the number
of jobs requiring education beyond a high school
degree has increased and the options of post-secondary
pathways have become more diverse. Now, students can
choose to seek a certificate, complete specific courses
online, or mix multiple school classes to make their own
degree.
However, the growth of our state’s skilled workforce
does not reside only with this group. Data tell us, of
the students in Minnesota’s post-secondary schools, 67
percent are non-traditional, first-time undergraduates.
While the skills gained are the same for traditional and
non-traditional students, the path they take may differ.
At Metro North Adult Basic Education (ABE), we are
very comfortable with non-traditional higher education
students: they are the students who
As Minnesota looks to come to our classes each day. Almost
three out of four of our students are
fill the need for skilled
over 25 years of age, and seven out
workers in the future,
of 10 are students of color.
With this change in what
schools offer, and changes in job
requirements, far more people are
looking to take advantage of new
programs and increase their job
(they) are sitting in
In 2015, the Minnesota legislature
and career prospects. We can see
one
of
our
classrooms
enacted a state postsecondary
this change on college campuses
education attainment goal that 70
today. 376,00 students enrolled in
right now
percent of Minnesota adults (age 25
a Minnesota College or University
to 44) will have attained a post-secondary certificate or
in 2017 and enrollment data shows the increasing
degree by 2025. This is only six years away, and while
diversification of students. One trend is the growth of
we have not yet attained this goal, the need is still there.
what colleges call “non-traditional” students, where
“traditional” refers to a student who enrolls immediately
It is easy to see the students who will potentially fill
after high school graduation and “non-traditional” is a
this gap. As Minnesota looks to fill the need for middle
student who enters higher education through any other
and high skilled workers in the future, our next Office
path.
and Administrative Technologist, Nursing Assistant or
Precision Sheet Metal Technician is sitting in one of our
As we look to the future and the need for more middle
classrooms right now.
and high skilled workers, traditional students are
certainly important for Minnesota to be concerned about.
#IamABE
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METRO NORTH ABE CONSORTIUM