STRONG WORKFORCE STARS

Cerritos College Bronze and Silver Stars

What are Strong Workforce Stars?

California Community Colleges Strong Workforce Stars, launched in 2017, is an annual recognition and celebration for career education programs, also known as career technical education, whose students show significant gains in factors important for advancing social mobility – a substantial increase in earnings, attainment of a living wage and a job closely matched with the field of study. College programs may receive recognition at one of three levels: Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, and Gold Stars, depending on how many of three outcomes thresholds they meet.

  1. An increase of earnings by 50% or more, based on the state wage file, for students who were last enrolled in 2015-2016
  2. Attainment of the regional living wage by 70% or more, based on a match to the state wage file, for students who were last enrolled in 2015-2016
  3. 90% or more employed in a job similar to their field of study, according to the CTEO survey, for students last enrolled in 2014-2015

Cerritos College did well by earning 6 Bronze stars and 18 Silver stars! Here are the programs who were awarded:

SILVER STARS (attained threshold outcomes on two metrics)

  • Engineering Technology: 146% increase in earnings and 89% of students attained the regional living wage
  • New Product Development- Automotive Aftermarket Product Development: 133% increase in earnings and 80% or students attained the regional living wage
  • Machine Tool Technology: Machinist: 58% increase in earnings and 79% of students attained the regional living wage
  • Physical Therapist Assistant: 83% increase in earnings and 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study
  • Dental Assisting: 248% increase in earnings and 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study
  • Infant/Toddler Teacher: 53% increase in earnings and 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study

BRONZE STARS (attained threshold outcomes on one metric)

  • Welding Technology: 91% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study
  • Automotive Technology: 132% increase in earnings
  • Automotive Collision Repair: 58% increase in earnings
  • Accounting: 53% increase in earnings
  • Business Management: 73% of students attained the regional living wage
  • Cosmetology and Barbering: 141% increase in earnings
  • Children with Special Needs: 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study
  • Architecture and Architectural Technology: 58% increase in earnings
  • Drafting Technology: 88% increase in earnings
  • International Business and Trade: 80% increase in earnings
  • Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology: 79% increase in earnings
  • Office Technology – Office Computer Applications: 83% increase in earnings
  • Computer Programming: 68% increase in earnings
  • Computer Networking: 52% increase in earnings
  • Administration of Justice: 80% increase in earnings
  • Retail Store Operations and Management: 90% of students attained the regional living wage
  • Culinary Arts: 63% increase in earnings
  • Human Services:  99% increase in earnings