As this report went to press, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development put out a study that largely underscores its central theme: Schools are lagging in preparing students for tomorrow鈥檚 jobs.
The 41-nation study found that students鈥� career aspirations have narrowed just as dramatic technological and social changes are transforming the workplace. In fact, teenagers鈥� 鈥渄ream jobs鈥� today are nearly identical to those in 2000, putting many at a disadvantage in the emerging economy.
鈥淲hat we know about the future of work doesn鈥檛 make its way into classrooms and experiences of young people,鈥� study co-author Andreas Schleicher concluded.
Educators would not entirely disagree. A poll by our own EdWeek Research Center found that more than half of educators鈥�51 percent鈥攕aid updating curriculum to get students ready for the jobs of the future is a top priority.
The challenge is figuring out what schools ought to teach. Is it creativity? Data science? Soft skills?
This report fills in some of those blanks. Read on to find out what companies want from new employees, how teachers are infusing 鈥渂ig data鈥� skills into math lessons, and what schools are doing to expose students to cutting-edge business operations. Are your students ready for tomorrow鈥檚 workplace?
鈥擳he Editors
