Governor DeWine's Plan Delivers Real Jobs Over Useless Degrees With Trade School Funding

Ohio’s investment in career tech education equips students for high-demand jobs, driving economic growth and countering outdated academic-only models.

Governor DeWine's plan delivers real jobs over useless degrees with trade school funding BreakingCentral

Published: April 18, 2025

Written by Carmen Gómez

A Bold Step for Ohio’s Future

In Brown County, Ohio, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked a victory for practical education. The newly upgraded Southern Hills Career and Technical Center, backed by $6.3 million in state funding, stands as a testament to Governor Mike DeWine’s commitment to equipping students with real-world skills. This isn’t just a building; it’s a rejection of the tired notion that a four-year degree is the only path to success. The center’s new healthcare and machining labs are training grounds for careers that power communities and drive economies.

For too long, policymakers and educators have pushed a one-size-fits-all model, funneling kids toward universities while dismissing trades and technical fields as lesser. The result? A skills gap that’s left industries like manufacturing and healthcare scrambling for workers. Ohio’s investment flips that script, recognizing that not every student dreams of a desk job or a mountain of student debt. By doubling the capacity of programs at Southern Hills, the state is giving students choices and communities a fighting chance.

Real Skills, Real Jobs

The numbers tell a compelling story. Over the past four years, Ohio has seen a 10% surge in career tech enrollment, with 13,000 more students opting for hands-on training. At Southern Hills, the healthcare program now trains 50 students annually, up from 25, thanks to a state-of-the-art lab featuring tools like the Anatomage Table, a 3D digital model that lets students dissect virtual bodies with precision. The machining lab, set to open next year, will add another 25 to 30 students, teaching them to operate CNC machines and welding tools that mirror what local businesses use.

This isn’t abstract theory; it’s preparation for jobs that exist right now. Nearby manufacturers and hospitals are desperate for skilled workers, and Ohio’s investment ensures students can step into those roles with confidence. Nationally, the manufacturing sector faces a projected need for 3.8 million new workers by 2033, yet nearly half those jobs could go unfilled without programs like these. In healthcare, states like Arizona are producing thousands of professionals annually through similar initiatives, proving that career tech isn’t just a local win—it’s a national necessity.

Contrast this with the status quo in states that cling to outdated models. Some education advocates argue that career tech diverts students from ‘higher’ academic pursuits, as if wielding a welder or reading a patient chart is somehow less noble. That mindset ignores reality: trade school enrollment jumped 4.9% from 2020 to 2023, while university numbers dipped. Students and families are voting with their feet, choosing paths that lead to paychecks over prestige.

Dollars Well Spent

Ohio’s funding strategy is a masterclass in prioritizing taxpayers’ money. The $4.6 million Governor’s Career Tech Expansion Grant and $1.7 million Career Tech Equipment Grant didn’t just renovate a building; they built a pipeline to prosperity. Across the country, 26 states enacted 63 CTE funding policies in 2024, from Wisconsin’s $20 million for oral healthcare training to federal pushes for $1.5 billion in CTE grants. These aren’t handouts—they’re investments with measurable returns. Graduates with industry certifications, like the 235,000 Florida students who earned them in 2023, are more likely to land jobs and earn higher wages.

Skeptics might claim that pouring money into career tech siphons resources from traditional schools. But that argument falls flat when you look at outcomes. Utah’s CTE completers boast a 98.5% graduation rate, trouncing the state average. Programs like Southern Hills don’t just teach skills; they keep kids engaged, reducing dropout rates and closing opportunity gaps. In 2021–22, 51% of CTE students were people of color, showing that these initiatives reach communities often left behind by ivory-tower academics.

Pushing Back on Elitism

The expansion of Southern Hills also challenges a deeper cultural bias. For decades, certain education reformers have peddled the idea that college is the golden ticket, sidelining vocational training as a fallback for those who ‘can’t hack it.’ That narrative, rooted in the late 20th century’s college-for-all push, has left millions saddled with debt and degrees that don’t translate to jobs. Meanwhile, the skills gap in manufacturing and healthcare has grown, with 40% of core manufacturing skills expected to change by 2030, per the World Economic Forum.

Ohio’s approach exposes that elitism for what it is: disconnected and destructive. By listening to educators like Southern Hills Superintendent Kevin Kratzer, who urged DeWine to fund equipment and expand capacity, the state is aligning education with reality. The new classrooms and labs aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re necessities for a workforce facing automation, AI, and global competition. Other states, stuck in the grip of academic purists, risk falling behind as Ohio builds a model that works.

A Blueprint for America

What’s happening in Brown County isn’t an isolated success—it’s a roadmap. States that invest in career tech are seeing unemployment drop, wages rise, and businesses thrive. Rural areas, often hit hardest by economic shifts, benefit most, as CTE programs create local jobs and keep talent close to home. Ohio’s model, with its focus on industry partnerships and cutting-edge tools, shows how to prepare students for a world where adaptability and skill trump credentials.

As the nation grapples with economic uncertainty, Ohio’s career tech boom offers a clear lesson: bet on the workers, not the theorists. Governor DeWine’s vision, realized in places like Southern Hills, proves that when you give students the tools to build their future, they’ll build a stronger America. Other states would be wise to take note and follow suit.