Skip to main content

Just In: Enrollment for the 2021–2022 school year is now open! Apply today.

Just In: Enrollment for the 2021–2022 school year is now open! Apply today.

DCA
OLS LOGIN
ENROLL NOW
ASK THE COMMUNITY
chat
chat
Search
  • 855.686.3515

DCA

Chat
Chat
DCA
CALL
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Team
    • Our Partners
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • News & Updates
    • Advisory Board
  • CAREER READINESS EDUCATION
    • Career Technical Education
    • CRE Benefits
      • Career Planning
      • Earn Certifications
      • Earn College Credit
    • Career Fields
      • Business
      • Health and Human Services
      • IT
      • Agriculture
      • Manufacturing
    • Our Model
      • Course List
      • Career Clubs
      • Extracurricular Activities
      • Job Shadowing-Apprenticeships
      • Project Based Learning
      • Student Advisory Council
      • Learning Coach
  • SCHOOLS & PROGRAMS
    • Our Schools
    • Adult Education Programs
    • High School eSports Team
  • RESOURCES
    • Compare Your School Options
    • Contact Tracing Training
    • FAQs
    • High School Career Quiz
    • How to Enroll
    • Tallo
    • View a Lesson
    • Webinars
  • UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL
  • ENROLL NOW
    OLS LOGIN
  • Chat
    Chat
Search
ENROLL PARENT PORTAL
NEED MORE INFO
You are here
  • Home
  • Unlock Your Potential
  • Career
  • What is the Skills Gap?
What is the Skills Gap?
Career

What is the Skills Gap?

Aug 25, 2020
profile picture
Avery
Avery

Avery enjoys playing lacrosse and spending time with friends in the Washington, DC metro area

As you begin to research how to start your career, the term skills gap will probably come up a few times. However, in most cases, it's loosely defined. Yet, as a teenager planning for the future, understanding the skills gap may very well be essential to finding a well-paying and secure job. Here are the three most important things you need to know about the skills gap to help you get ahead.

1. What is it?

As they search for new employees, employers are increasingly finding that most of their candidates lack the skills necessary. In short, there is a “gap” between the skills employers want to see in their employees and the skills that potential employees can offer. In recent years, the rapid development of new technology has accelerated this phenomenon by challenging job seekers to stay up to date and use the latest technologies in their field. 

2. Why does it pose a problem?

On a large scale, the skills gap has incredibly adverse effects on the economy. Put simply, if companies cannot adequately fill their vacancies, they will be less successful. At the same time, if candidates cannot get hired, unemployment rates will remain high. Together, these two factors can be devastating. Experts suggest that the skills gap could cost the United States over 1.2 trillion dollars in the next ten years.

3. What can I do to avoid being a part of it?

To avoid being trapped in the gap, you will have to pay close attention to the development of both your soft and hard skills. In terms of soft skills, you will need to ensure, through project-based learning or other group work, that you are able to effectively collaborate and tackle challenges with creativity and emotional intelligence. On the other hand, you will need to ensure that you stay up to date with the hard skills necessary in the modern workplace. To get ahead, you may want to start learning about topics such as Blockchain, Cloud computing, video production, or UX design. 

< Previous
Next >

Related Content

Read more >
article-placeholder-thumb
Category Name Article TItle

Categories

Discover More

Read more >
featured-placeholder-thumb
Career 3 Work From Home Options For Teenagers

In the world of COVID-19, there's no doubt that working from home is the new normal. However, most traditional high school jobs don't lend themselves well to a virtual format.

Read more >
 
Read more >
featured-placeholder-thumb
Career Part-Time Job Websites for Teens

Let's be honest. Trying to find a part-time job as a teen can be overwhelming. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent on Google, searching every company I know, only to find out that most of them are only hiring college kids. If you take this approach, this process can be frustrating, to say the least.

Read more >
 
Read more >
featured-placeholder-thumb
Career 5 Great Career Path Quizzes

If you're like me, you probably shudder when asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?” I mean, how are we supposed to know? We're only teenagers, after all. However, not having a career plan can be a waste of valuable time and money after graduation...

Read more >
 
Read more >
featured-placeholder-thumb
Career 5 Summer Jobs for Teenagers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

When I finished classes last week, I doubted that anyone would be hiring high schoolers. Amid the pandemic, since traditional summer jobs are unavailable and businesses are struggling, it felt like there were no opportunities...

Read more >
 
  • About Us
  • Our Schools
  • Resources
  • CTE
  • Newsroom
  • Newsletter Archives
  • School Districts

  • Stride, Inc.
  • Meet Stride
  • Mission and Vision
  • Leadership and Board
  • Investors
  • Careers

K12 Inc BBB Business Review

K12 Inc BBB Business Review

ENROLLMENT HELP
  •   855.686.3515

K12 App

 

Find the right school, enroll, and get ready for your student's first day.

K12 App

 

Find the right school, enroll, and get ready for your student's first day.

*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.

**Destinations Career Academies are for grades 9–12; however, we may have other online public schools in your area that offer lower grades.

†Many Microsoft® Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who attend Destinations for at least two years will have further exposure to career readiness education courses to be prepared for certification testing.

Families do not pay tuition for a student to attend a K12-powered online public school. Common household items and office supplies like printer ink and paper are not provided. Our enrollment consultants can help address your technological and computer questions and needs.

K12 Inc.’s corporate name change to Stride, Inc., is effective as of December 16, 2020. Stride trades on the NYSE under the symbol LRN.
Copyright © 2021 Stride, Inc. All rights reserved. The Stride word mark, logo and other marks referenced herein are trademarks of Stride, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and other company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • IP Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • About Us
  • Our Program
  • Our Schools
  • Resources
  • CTE
  • Newsroom
  • Newsletter Archives
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • IP Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • School Districts

K12 App

 

Find the right school, enroll, and get ready for your student's first day.

K12 Inc BBB Business Review

K12 Inc BBB Business Review

ENROLLMENT HELP
  •   855.686.3515

 

*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.

**Destinations Career Academies are for grades 9–12; however, we may have other online public schools in your area that offer lower grades.

Families do not pay tuition for a student to attend a K12-powered online public school. Common household items and office supplies like printer ink and paper are not provided. Our enrollment consultants can help address your technological and computer questions and needs.

Copyright © 2020 K12 Inc. All rights reserved. K12 is a registered trademark of K12 Inc. The K12 logo and other marks referenced herein are trademarks of K12 Inc. and its subsidiaries, and other marks are owned by third parties.

 

Top
Loading... please wait Loading...please wait
Loading finished Loading finished