1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Career and Technical Education Research and Outreach Act of 2018 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current number of job openings is at record high levels, with 6,000,000 job openings nationally. (2) The National Skills Coalition has found that middle-skill jobs—jobs requiring some education beyond a high school diploma, but not a 4-year degree—account for 53 percent of the labor market in the United States, yet only 43 percent of all workers are trained at the middle-skill level. (3) A report by Manpower Group found that employers in many industries struggle to find workers with the right skills and experience. For example, more than 80 percent of manufacturers say that talent shortages will affect their ability to meet customer needs. Employers also report difficulties in finding skilled trade workers, nurses, and technicians. (4) Career and technical education plays a critical role in closing the skills gap and strengthening the workforce. By helping students develop the skills they need for high-wage, high-demand 21st century jobs, career and technical education makes American businesses and workers more competitive in the global economy. Our economic future depends on a highly skilled and competitive workforce. (5) According to a national organization representing State leaders in secondary, postsecondary, and adult career and technical education, Advance CTE, high school students who concentrate in career and technical education programs are less likely to drop out