CECU Announces New Book on Skilled Trades, Career Education 

The book discusses the impact of AI on the workforce, growing dissatisfaction with traditional higher education, and the role trade schools and career colleges play in expanding the pipeline to skilled workers. Publication by Sunbury Press is set for April 28. 

Arlington, VA – With record numbers of college graduates unable to find jobs and employers struggling to find qualified applicants to fill high-demand roles, a paradox exists in higher education – too few workers can find jobs and too few employers can find workers. The resulting skills gap threatens America’s competitiveness and gives rise to a national debate about whether traditional college is worth it. These topics are explored in a new book: Trade Up: Why the Future Belongs to Skilled Trades and How Career Education is Transforming the Workforce, set for publication on April 28.

Published by Sunbury Press, the book is coauthored by Jason Altmire, CEO of Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), and Riley Burr, CECU’s Vice President for Policy & Research and Executive Director of the CECU Research Foundation. Drawing on data, workforce trends, and real-world experience, they make the case that trade schools and career-focused education are key to closing the skills gap. They offer a hopeful, solutions-oriented roadmap for students, educators, and employers ready to rethink how America prepares its workforce of tomorrow.

More information about the book is available here, including praise from a diverse group of prominent thought leaders such as Mike Rowe, CEO of mikeroweWORKS Foundation; Suzanne P. Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA. 

Members of the media interested in profiling or reviewing the book may inquire about an advance copy by contacting: [email protected].

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About Career Education Colleges and Universities
Representing more than 900 campuses across the United States, Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association representing private postsecondary trade schools and career colleges.

Media Contact

Jenny Faubert, Vice President of Communications, 571-970-6391 or [email protected]