Tennessee’s public community and technical colleges provided more than 1.4 million hours of direct workforce training in the 2023-24 academic year, according to the Tennessee Board of Regents Center for Workforce Development. Approximately 44,800 students and employees participated in these programs.
The state’s 13 community colleges accounted for 1,180,080 hours of workforce training, marking an 8.7% increase from the previous year, and served over 37,000 students and employees. The 24 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) delivered 223,570 hours of workforce training, a notable 47% increase, serving over 7,800 students and employees.
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Walters State Community College led the community colleges by offering 207,070 workforce training hours, followed by Northeast State Community College with 148,242 hours. Among TCATs, TCAT Murfreesboro and TCAT Jackson were the top performers in workforce training hours. Further details on each college’s workforce training statistics can be found here.
These workforce programs are distinct from the traditional academic and technical education programs for which the colleges are also known. Dr. Jeff Sisk, Executive Director of TBR’s Center for Workforce Development, emphasized the importance of these programs in meeting the skill needs of partner industries.
Walters State Community College offers various apprenticeship programs and training for businesses and healthcare organizations in East Tennessee. Dr. Tony Miksa, president of Walters State, highlighted the college’s commitment to providing customized training solutions to meet the region’s workforce needs. Companies such as Summit Health and Clayton Giles Industries have participated in these programs.
Northeast State Community College’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) is a significant contributor to the college’s workforce training, accounting for about 80% of the training hours. Its apprenticeship programs enable students to gain practical experience while working for sponsoring businesses.
TCAT Jackson focuses on multiple industry sectors within a large service area in southwest Tennessee. Dr. JacQuene Rainey, President of TCAT Jackson, attributes the success of their workforce training to strong industry partnerships. The college has seen growth in apprenticeship programs, benefiting companies like Chemring through skills development.
TCAT Murfreesboro hosts the Tennessee Job Training & Safety Program (JT&S), which provides training across various utilities. Over 140,000 workforce contact hours were delivered last year, focusing on regulatory compliance and industry best practices, according to JT&S Program Coordinator Mike Simmons.
For more information on TBR’s Center for Workforce Development and the colleges’ workforce training programs, visit the Center for Workforce Development website.
The College System of Tennessee is the largest public higher education system in the state, encompassing 13 community colleges and 24 colleges of applied technology, serving approximately 140,000 students. It is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Contact: Richard Locker at 615-366-4417. Published: 01/31/2025. Follow on Twitter @CollegeSystemTN.
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Tennessee Students Excel in National Assessment
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