About Us

What is SkillsUSA?

Representing over 413,000 career and technical education students and teachers, SkillsUSA chapters thrive in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide.

A vital solution to the ongoing skills gap, where more highly skilled jobs are available than skilled professionals ready to fill them, SkillsUSA has served more than 14.6 million diverse, difference-making members since 1965.

Over the course of the last decade, SkillsUSA Idaho has served roughly 24,000 post-secondary and secondary students at steadily increasing rate. Because SkillsUSA Idaho works hand-in-hand with business and industry, students get the skills that Idaho employers want and need.

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SkillsUSA Mission Statement

SkillsUSA is America’s proud champion of the skilled trades. Our mission is to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.

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SkillsUSA Vision

SkillsUSA’s vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.

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Values

The success of SkillsUSA’s mission depends on the commitment of our staff and stakeholders to the following values:
Integrity
Respect
Responsibility
Community
Service

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What is CTE?

CTE stands for career and technical education. It combines academic and technical skills with knowledge and hands-on experience. Most schools have some form of CTE classes but not all of them have a way for students to apply that knowledge.

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Closing the Skills Gap

The Skills gap is the difference between the amount of skilled workers in our workforce and the amount of jobs requiring those skills. Every year more jobs open that require more specialized skills but there are not enough workers with those skills to fill those jobs.

SkillsUSA Idaho is working to close that skills gap through career technical education in middle school, high school, and college/postsecondary programs. We are committed to producing a generation of strong workers and exceptional leaders who will take America’s workforce into a new frontier of innovation.

Together, we can close the skills gap in Idaho!

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SkillsUSA Traditions

SkillsUSA Pledge

Upon my honor, I pledge:

• To prepare myself by diligent study and ardent practice to become a worker whose services will be recognized as honorable by my employer and fellow workers.
• To base my expectations of reward upon the solid foundation of service.
• To honor and respect my vocation in such a way as to bring repute to myself.
• And further, to spare no effort in upholding the ideals of SkillsUSA.

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SkillsUSA Creed

I believe in the dignity of work

I hold that society has advanced to its present culture through the use of the worker’s hands and mind. I will maintain a feeling of humbleness for the knowledge and skills that I receive from professionals, and I will conduct myself with dignity in the work I do.

I believe in the American way of life.

I know our culture is the result of freedom of action and opportunities won by the founders of our American republic, and I will uphold their ideals.

I believe in education

I will endeavor to make the best use of knowledge, skills and experience that I will learn in order that I may be a better worker in my chosen occupation and a better citizen in my community. To this end, I will continue my learning now and in the future.

I believe in fair play

I will, through honesty and fair play, respect the rights of others. I will always conduct myself in the manner of the best professionals in my occupation and treat those with whom I work as I would like to be treated.

I believe satisfaction is achieved by good work

I feel that compensation and personal satisfaction received for my work and services will be in proportion to my creative and productive ability.

I believe in high moral and spiritual standards

I will endeavor to conduct myself in such a manner as to set an example for others by living a wholesome life and by fulfilling my responsibilities as a citizen of my community.

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SkillsUSA Colors

The colors red, white, blue, and gold represent the national SkillsUSA organization.

• Red and White represent the individual states and chapters.
• Blue represents the common union of the states and of the chapters.
• Gold represents the individual, the most important element of the organization.

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SkillsUSA Emblem