What are career pathways?
Career pathways offer a clear sequence, or pathway, of education coursework and/or training credentials aligned with employer-validated work readiness standards and competencies. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires states and local boards to collaborate with adult education, postsecondary education, and other partners to establish career pathways systems that make it easier for all Americans to attain the skills and credentials needed for jobs in their regional economy.  In Northwest TN, career pathways focus on the area’s target sectors which include Manufacturing, Healthcare, Transportation & Logistics, and Professional Services.    

The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration’s Career Pathways Toolkit: An Enhanced Guide and Workbook for System Development features the Introduction, Resources and the Six Key Elements of Career Pathways.


 TN PathwaysLogo

Tennessee Pathways creates alignment between K-12, postsecondary education and employers so that students have a clear and guided pathway to move seamlessly into the workforce.

Alongside Tennessee’s landmark tuition-free college grant programs—Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect—Tennessee Pathways directly supports the Drive-to-55 goal of equipping at least 55 percent of Tennesseans with a college degree or certificate by 2025.


advanced mfg button

158K+  Tennesseans employed by advanced manufacturing establishments
2,500+  Advanced manufacturing establishments in Tennessee
$12.4+  Billion in capital investment since 2016
28K+    New job commitments since 2016
$21+     Billion in manufactured products exported annually
26K+  Advanced manufacturing-related graduates since 2015 *source: https://tnecd.com/industries/advanced-manufacturing/

The links below will provide information that you may find helpful in finding a career and/or training programs that can prepare you for success.
--Executive Summary (PDF - 12 pages)
--Manufacturing Study Video (YouTube) 
--Manufacturing Days (YouTube)
--Re-Entry Advanced Manufacturing Program (RAMP)



advanced mfg buttonPartnership with Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) Promotes Nursing Career Pathway
In December 2019, DSCC was awarded a $1 million Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) grant to expand and enhance an educational pathway in nursing for rural northwest Tennessee that begins with the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification through high school dual enrollment and goes all the way to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from a four-year accredited university. In order to help achieve this, the Northwest TN Workforce Board (NWTNWB) proposed to coordinate with high schools and employers in the five counties covered under the GIVE grant – Dyer, Lake, Obion, Lauderdale, and Tipton, to offer career exploration events for each county to promote healthcare careers and training programs to participating high school students.
In April 2021, the first event took place virtually for students in Dyer and Lake County. The event consisted of students viewing two pre-recorded videos – an educator panel and an employer panel, both narrated by Shari Tidwell, Nurse Practitioner and owner of Family Practice Clinic in Dyersburg. The employer panel consisted of representatives from Signature Healthcare, Volunteer Home Health, and West TN Healthcare who discussed the various nursing career opportunities available in northwest TN across various settings such as home health, nursing homes, hospitals, and medical clinics.
The educator panel consisted of representatives from DSCC, the TN College of Applied Technology-Ripley, and the University of TN at Martin, as well as a UT Martin nursing program graduate. The panel discussed the levels of career and education opportunities in nursing, the training opportunities available for these occupations, as well as the entry requirements into these programs. In addition to the video panels, with the NWTNWB’s Career Exploration funding, 200 Lake and Dyer County High School students received bags full of informational materials including labor market information on nursing career and training opportunities and services available through the American Job Centers. Educator and employer panelists also contributed materials for the students. 

 

 


Need help? 

Career Coach button 

With Career Coach, students can quickly find a career that's right for them based on relevant job market information and enroll in a program at institutions that best fit their goals.

And remember--the American Job Center has many career and training opportunities! Explore our website and make an appointment with local American Job Center Career Advisor to see what is available to you!  FIND MY LOCAL AJC