New YouScience Report Shows Oregon Students Have Aptitude for State's In-Demand Careers, But Exposure to Career Pathways Is Lacking

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May 10, 2023, 08:15 ET

Anonymized data from more than 30,000 Oregon students demonstrates the need for a stronger education and career connection.

AMERICAN FORK, Utah, May 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oregon has the 11th fastest growing state economy in the United States, attracting many Fortune 100 companies such as Nike, Intel, Daimler Truck, and more. The state has also grown significantly in key sectors, including manufacturing and healthcare. While these factors have made Oregon an attractive job market for individuals from across the country, much of the talent to support its economy can be cultivated in the state's secondary and post-secondary education institutions. This can be done by creating a stronger connection between education and career.

To help, YouScience^®, the leading technology provider dedicated to closing the growing skills gap between students and employers, today released a new piece of research, "The 2023 Oregon Student Ability and Economic Outlook Report." The report's findings reveal that Oregon students have the aptitude to excel in many sought-after careers, like computer & technology, advanced manufacturing, and health sciences. However, despite this, interest in such careers appears to lag behind their aptitude. If action is not taken to close this gap, Oregon may experience a labor or employee gap.

In addition, the research revealed that female students may face biases that hinder them from pursuing career paths in which they have an aptitude. This can be due to various factors, such as gender stereotypes, patriarchal attitudes, or simply a lack of exposure to various career options available to them. These issues can prevent female students from exploring and developing their potential in ways that would ultimately benefit them in their chosen field.

"We aim to transform how we engage learners of all identities, abilities, economic status, and regions by inspiring and empowering students to match their passion with future opportunities. Plus, we aim to strengthen collaboration and alignment between education and industry by expanding work-based learning experiences based on student voice and choice," said Deb Mumm-Hill, Executive Director at Oregon STEM. "Our students need real-world experience to help them prepare for their future."

"YouScience's aptitude assessment is valuable in helping our students learn more about themselves and how their natural abilities can be applied to in-demand and high-wage jobs. The YouScience approach has been particularly successful in revealing students' innate talents that they may not have been aware of and showing them how their gifts align with the exciting world of work. We are committed to providing our students with the resources they need to unleash their potential, create experiential pathways, and ensure equitable opportunity and prosperity for our emerging workforce," Mumm-Hill added.

Key findings show that Oregon students have:

Computers & Technology

All students have 5x more aptitude than interest
Male students have 4x more aptitude than interest.
Female students show 10x more aptitude than interest.

Advanced Manufacturing

All students have 2x more aptitude than interest.
Male students have 1.6x more aptitude than interest.
Female students have 7x more aptitude than interest.

Health Sciences:

All students have 1.5x more aptitude than interest.
Male students have 2x more aptitude than interest.
Female students have 1x more aptitude than interest.

"Career Connected Learning is an important approach to ensure Oregon students are able to take full advantage of their individual aptitudes and pursue the career opportunities that best fit them," said Hans Meeder, Senior Fellow for Education and Workforce Education at YouScience, and the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education for the U.S. Department of Education. "By helping our youth understand many of their natural talents early in life, we can ensure they have the best chances of achieving success in whatever field they choose. It is essential for leaders in Oregon, both in education and local industries, to come together and provide guidance and resources to help our students identify their strengths and passions so they can make informed decisions about their future."

The findings are based on anonymized data from more than 31,000 Oregon middle and high school students who completed the YouScience^® Aptitude & Career Discovery assessment in 2022. This data was compared against the Career Clusters found in the National Career Clusters^® Framework, representing 79 Career Pathways.

Meeder offers a set of key considerations and actionable recommendations to bridge the gap between education and industry. To see these recommendations as well as the full findings of the report and learn more about YouScience, please visit: The 2023 Oregon Student Ability and Economic Outlook Report.

About YouScience
YouScience^® is the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills and exposure gap crisis for students and employers. Its end-to-end platform, YouScience^® Brightpath, connects education with career applications designed to help students unlock their potential for future pathways. YouScience leverages proven research, artificial intelligence, and industry input to help individuals identify their aptitudes, validate their skills and knowledge, and get matched with real-world educational and career pathways in high-demand occupations. YouScience is the preferred choice of individuals, parents, educators, and counselors to guide and support educational and career pathways, currently serving more than 7,000 educational institutions and millions of users nationwide.

SOURCE YouScience