Partnerships in Practice: How to Engage With CTE Programs

Partnerships in Practice is a companion piece to Jobs for the Future’s Power Your Workforce playbook. It’s a practical guide for employers who want to engage directly and effectively with community college career and technical Education (CTE) programs—which are a proven local sources of workers with in-demand skills who are ready to step into hard-to-fill jobs. Employer engagement with colleges is key to ensuring that these programs offer training and instruction that align with real labor market needs.

This guide outlines a range of ways employers can engage with community college CTE programs—from quick, low-lift outreach activities to deep, sustained partnerships—so you can choose the approaches that fit your capacity and goals. It provides implementation tools, real-world examples, and ideas for activities to help you strengthen your involvement, influence CTE program design, and connect with job-ready talent.

Whether you’re just starting to work with a community college or are ready to take an active leadership role, Partnerships in Practice will help you identify impactful ways to engage, deepen relationships, and generate measurable results.