SkillsUSA Framework: Why it Works

For the last 70 years, SkillsUSA Ohio has been dedicated to developing students to fill the skilled labor gap that exists here in Ohio as well as across the entire nation. The gap has always been there, but with the introduction of the Covid-19 Pandemic, nearly 8 million skilled-labor jobs were lost from the labor force. Since the onset of Covid-19, about half of those jobs have been filled, but that still leaves 4 million unfulfilled skilled labor jobs, negatively impacting our nation's economic standing. This unfortunate reality piles on the already existing problems in our skilled labor gap. However, with the SkillsUSA program, there can be light at the end of the tunnel. We work diligently with instructors, industries, and students to inspire, educate, and facilitate career readiness in our skilled labor force. How do we do this? It all starts with our SkillsUSA Framework.

What Is It?

The SkillsUSA Framework supports a balanced program of personal skills, workplace skills, and technical skills grounded in academics. Each part of this framework provides knowledge of skills needed to be career ready and successful in the workforce. As an educational organization, SkillsUSA Ohio’s impressive results can be tied back to the strategic trifecta that makes up the SkillsUSA framework. Let’s break it down:

Personal Skills | Learned skills making you an ideal candidate and a productive and valued employee

• Integrity

• Work Ethic

• Professionalism

• Responsibility

• Adaptability/Flexibility

• Self-Motivation

Workplace Skills | Learned skills fostering growth, teamwork, and problem solving in the workplace

• Communications

• Decision Making

• Teamwork

• Multicultural Sensitivity and Awareness

• Planning, Organizing, and Management

• Leadership

Technical Skills | Grounded in academics—learned skills applying to specific pathways of skilled labor

• Computer and Technology Literacy

• Job Specific Skills

• Safety and Health

• Service Orientation

• Professional Development

What Does it Do?

Grounded in the mission of SkillsUSA and SkillsUSA Ohio— “to empower members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens,” the framework introduces a common language used in SkillsUSA divisions nationally. Keeping consistency and the ability to measure growth and learning, the framework creates a SkillsUSA footprint across the country that has all the necessary pieces to fill the skilled labor gap.

How does it work?

The SkillsUSA Framework centers on industry demands, meeting employers' needs to provide true career readiness. The Harvard Graduate School of Education, did a study on the “U.S. school to career system,” noting that “structural gaps and systemic inefficiencies in the system that prepare young people for employment and connect then to jobs are major reasons that many become lost in the transition from school to career.” What does the Framework do? It fills those gaps.

Mainstreaming classroom instruction with a consistent outline and empowering every student to learn and maintain the skills they need to succeed, are just two of the ways it works. It also delivers a skill set demanded by business and industry that is severely lacking in many workplaces today. Additionally, the skills each student learns can be applied to various careers throughout their lives, allowing them more opportunities and adaptability.

How do I learn more?

If you are a student interested in learning more about SkillsUSA Ohio and its commitment to filling the skills gap through the SkillsUSA Framework, reach out or visit our website to learn more. We work with countless schools and career centers across Ohio, there is bound to be one close to you!