The federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 includes several references to High Skill, High Wage, or High Demand occupations.

In addition, in the next ten years nearly half of job openings in the U.S. and Delaware will require middle-level skills. In comparison, only 44 percent of U.S. and Delaware workers have middle-level skill training (nationalskillscoalition.org).

The Delaware Department of Education in collaboration with Delaware Department of Labor, developed definitions for "middle-skill, high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand" occupations as follows:

• Middle Skill Criteria: Occupations requiring some type of post-secondary education (such as an apprenticeship, certification, or an Associate’s degree) but not a Bachelor’s degree; or High School education with some work experience or at least one month on-the-job training or credential attainment.

• High Skill Criteria: Occupations requiring at least a Bachelor’s degree, or Associates’ Degree with either a required Residency/Internship or five years of experience.

• High Wage Criteria: Occupations paying more than the Delaware all-industry statewide median wage ($46,700 in 2021).

• High Demand Criteria: Occupations with at least 4 annual job openings due to growth in Delaware.

The table below indicates which occupations meet the Delaware Middle Skill, High Skill, High Wage, and High Demand criteria.

For more information, please contact the Delaware Department of Education by phone at 302.735.4015 or by email to Nicole Lawless at Nicole.Lawless@doe.k12.de.us.