Comparative Perspectives on TVET: Lessons from the United States and Developing Economies for Workforce Readiness and Economic Inclusion

This article offers a critical and interdisciplinary examination of how education systems structured for technical and vocational development can serve as a powerful catalyst for equity, resilience, and sustainable economic participation. Through comparative analysis across developed and developing contexts, it highlights the essential role of institutional architecture, strategic governance, and funding coherence in ensuring the effectiveness and inclusivity of skills development systems. The work interrogates outdated dichotomies between academic and vocational pathways, advocating for an integrated skills continuum that supports both lifelong learning and labor market adaptability. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain are explored as transformative tools for enhancing instructional delivery, credential transparency, and administrative efficiency. However, the study emphasizes the importance of embedding these innovations within policy frameworks that prioritize ethical standards, digital access, and systemic equity. Curriculum design is positioned as another critical vector of reform, with a focus on green skills, entrepreneurship, modular learning structures, and personalized pathways that are contextually responsive and future-oriented. Beyond the technological and pedagogical domains, the article underscores the urgency of aligning educational systems with public health infrastructure, climate resilience strategies, and social protection mechanisms. Doing so repositions skills development as not only a workforce agenda but a foundational pillar of adaptive capacity and collective well-being. In its final analysis, the article argues for a paradigm shift, from fragmented, program-specific approaches to the construction of integrated, interoperable learning ecosystems. These ecosystems must be supported by inclusive leadership, real-time data systems, and cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure that reforms translate into measurable and equitable impact. The work offers actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and global development stakeholders committed to reimagining education as a catalyst for inclusive transformation.