A career cluster is a group of careers that share common features, such as similar knowledge or skill sets. They are used as an organizing tool for Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, curriculum design, and instruction. Career clusters can help individuals explore different kinds of jobs within one broad category and identify with a cluster to build their career and choose credentials that will qualify them for a variety of different, but related, jobs.
The National Career Clusters Framework is a common organizing tool used by many universities and state agencies, and it includes sixteen clusters covering a wide range of industries and fields. The sixteen career clusters are:
- Agriculture, food, and natural resources
- Architecture and construction
- Arts, audio/video technology, and communication
- Business management and administration
- Education and training
- Finance
- Government and public administration
- Health science
- Hospitality and tourism
- Human services
- Information technology
- Law, public safety, corrections, and security
- Manufacturing
- Marketing, sales, and service
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
- Transportation, distribution, and logistics
If someone enjoys a job in a particular career cluster, they may like other jobs in that cluster as well. Career clusters can help job seekers find professions that match their particular interests and skills.
