13 minute read
Workforce Development Programs Are in Overdrive
Job losses resulting from the pandemic have made upskilling of workers for the post-COVID economy even more critical, and government and private organizations are stepping up.
States have always competed for new development projects and expansions to broaden their tax base and create good-paying jobs for their workers. Incentive packages typically include free workforce recruitment, training, and other support, as long as the companies hit their investment and employment goals. However, the COVID-19 has disrupted the U.S. economy, resulting in the loss of nearly 20 million jobs and the closure and bankruptcy of thousands of companies, while other businesses turned to Industry 4.0, such as automation and robotics, and invested in the communication technologies required for remote work to stay in operation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hurt every business sector and driven many employees to retire or quit. This is especially hard on the manufacturing industry, where an enormous skills gap already exists. To create the most competitive labor pool, workforce development departments have brought technology to the forefront, especially for recruitment, training, and “upskilling” to different positions, or even entry into completely different industries. Some workforce development programs like Georgia Quick Start, LED FastStart, and AIDT have been around for years. But state workforce development departments — as well as private organizations — across the nation are now being even more creative and proactive in advancing the skills of workers to help them build rewarding careers in these challenging times.
Rapid Response Teams
In light of the economic losses caused by the pandemic, Alabama’s Rapid Response Team moves quickly to assist companies and employees that have been negatively impacted by staff reductions or reduced operations. Team members visit with upper management and employees on site to provide advice on unemployment compensation, pension benefits, health insurance, and other job-seeking concerns, including training and upskilling to new positions.
New Hampshire’s NH Works is a similar program that delivers early intervention re-employment services as quickly as possible, at no cost to the
By Mark Crawford
TALENT PIPELINE MANAGEMENT (TPM)
program is active in 37 states.
businesses or employees who are suffering from layoffs and/or closings. The rapid-response team helps individuals design a plan for re-employment, including coursework and upskilling, and advises them on state and federal programs that can assist them during their transition.
Customized Talent Pipelines
Launched in 2014, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) program is active in 37 states.1 TPM helps companies build scalable, sustainable pipelines of skilled workers for their industries and collaborate with their educational/training partners on developing curriculum. “The TPM approach builds external pipelines — adequately preparing talent that has yet to walk through the door—as well as long-term strategies for backfilling, upskilling, career pathway development, and succession planning,” states the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Businesses collaborate to manage these talent “supply chains” by projecting employment needs using real-time data and developing focused training solutions. In Kentucky, for example, “We continue to adjust to new information derived through TPM data and we have found ways to adapt our collaborative work to statewide initiatives,” says LaKisha Miller, TPM director for the state of Kentucky.2
Expanding Educational Infrastructure
States are building more training assets and infrastructure to meet the challenges of the pandemic-reduced workforce and the growing skills gap. In Arizona, local and industry partners collaborated to launch Drive48, a 13,000-square-foot workforce training facility located at Central Arizona College. The Drive48 facility houses multiple assembly robots used for training technicians in programming, maintenance, problem solving, troubleshooting, safety, general system requirements, and more for the region’s booming automotive and advanced manufacturing industries.
In Missouri, Ozarks Technical Community College is building a $40 million center for advanced manufacturing in Springfield, which will feature educational and training opportunities in robotics, fabrication, mechatronics, automation, and drafting and design.
And LED FastStart in Louisiana has committed $1.2 million to build a 50,000-square-foot digital library at Grambling State University and strengthen local partnerships with leading advanced technology companies in the region.
Private-Sector Training and Development
Up to 4.9 million low-wage U.S. workers may need to transition into higher-wage roles and develop new skills to remain employed in the digital
Continued on page 48
GEORGIA
IS A DRAW FOR TALENT
A versatile Georgia workforce is trained and ready to meet a variety of needs.
Georgia Department of Economic Development
75 Fifth St. NW, Suite 1200 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 404-962-4000 Georgia.org
From top-ranking colleges and universities to Georgia Quick Start — the No. 1 workforce development program in the country — Georgia invests in preparing talent. Locate or expand here, and you’ll find a versatile Georgia workforce that can meet a variety of needs. With a labor force of 5.3 million out of a population of 10.7 million, Georgia is a draw for talent, ranking 6th in the nation for net migration from 2018–2019. The state has an especially strong talent pool in transportation and material moving (380,000 workers); production (315,000); and computer and mathematical occupations (nearly 150,000). Leading specialized-skills workers include avionics technicians, aircraft assemblers, tire builders, cooling and freezing equipment operators, and food scientists. Additionally, Georgia is home to 52,000 software developers and programmers; 21,000 computer and information analysts; and 44,000 engineers (6,000 industrial, 5,000 electrical, 2,500 aerospace). Businesses are also operating in an employment-at-will and right-to-work state, with low unionization.
Georgia’s dedicated workforce continues to grow, thanks to its universities, technical colleges, and Georgia Quick Start program. Each year, Georgia’s 85 accredited public and private universities award more than 132,000 degrees and certificates. Home to two of the nation’s top public universities — Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia — and to two of the nation’s top five HBCUs — Spelman College and Morehouse College — the state is renowned for the strong and diverse talent produced here. Many students in Georgia benefit from the merit-based HOPE scholarship program, which provides tuition assistance to students pursuing a certificate or diploma. Since its launch in 1993, HOPE has provided more than $12.6 billion in scholarships and grants for two million of Georgia’s top students. Through the Technical College System of Georgia, the HOPE Career Grant provides tuition-free training in 17 “high-demand” occupations.
Georgia also offers Georgia Quick Start, the No. 1 training program in the United States. Founded 40+ years ago, more than one million employees have received training specific to the needs of the employer — evidence of Georgia’s ongoing partnership with companies in the state. Georgia’s industry-specific designated centers across the state meet business needs in advanced manufacturing, aviation, bioscience, cybersecurity, film, and fintech. The Technical College System of Georgia provides the training for free, and companies may use all materials for future in-house training. For businesses creating jobs or upgrading the skills of current employees in Georgia, it’s a win-win — better trained employees, higher productivity, and zero cost to the bottom line.
For more on Georgia’s workforce,
visit: georgia.org/competitive-advantages/workforce-education.
EXEMPLARY SERVICE. EXCEPTIONALLY QUALIFIED.
Georgia welcomes home thousands of former service members each year, and our accelerated training programs connect these capable veterans to rewarding careers. Georgia’s workforce is ready to serve.
Workforce Development Programs Are in Overdrive
Continued from page 45
economy, according to McKinsey.3 Thus, in early 2020, Coursera launched its Workforce Recovery Initiative to help governments respond to the unemployment crisis caused by the pandemic. To date, this program has supported displaced workers in more than 25 states by providing free access to thousands of online courses for skills training.
In Tennessee, for example, through the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD)-Coursera partnership, thousands of Tennesseans have skilled up and returned to work. “Our work with the state of Tennessee has already helped thousands of hard-working citizens prepare for high-demand local jobs, including roles in IT support and contact tracing,” says Jeff Maggioncalda, Coursera CEO.4
Merit, which provides digital credential issuing, verification, and reporting for government agencies, launched its WorkNow program to assist states with their efforts to get millions of unemployed people back to work. By digitally tracking workers’ skills and credentials, workforce development leaders can be more effective in directing training resources toward programs and employee groups that will gain the most economic benefit.
In a public-private development initiative, Back to Work Rhode Island has partnered with Google Cloud to create an online career platform that provides laid-off workers with the tools for finding jobs and being matched with meaningful career opportunities through a virtual career center. “Our collaboration with Google Cloud has married accessible technology with government innovation to train and connect workers with the resources they need to access indemand jobs,” says Sarah Blusiewicz,5 assistant director of workforce development for Rhode Island’s Department of Labor and Training.
Upskilling Tools and Technologies
Reskilling, upskilling, and increased training will play an important part in the nation’s economic recovery. Business models have been severely disrupted, and employers are now forced to pivot and reallocate their workers into unfamiliar roles. Digital technologies and connectivity have become essential tools for supporting and retraining displaced workers, as well as recruiting them.
In Wisconsin, the Workforce Solutions Initiative includes the launch of a virtual career center and a mobile career lab, which delivers workforce-related services throughout the state.
Virginia’s Talent Accelerator Program provides technology-based training and recruitment solutions that are fully customized to a company’s unique operations, including simulations, broadcast-quality videos, illustrated work instructions, instructor-led classroom sessions, animations, and e-learning modules.
JumpStartAL, a private-public partnership in Alabama, uses virtual reality (VR) training solutions from job simulator TRANSFRVR to provide new education and training programs that are accessed remotely. “The initiative will highlight career paths needed for Alabama to meet its goal to increase its workforce by 500,000 highly skilled workers by 2025,” according to state sources.6
Moving Forward with WIN
To mitigate the dire impacts from COVID-19, the National Governors Association (NGA), with founding sponsorship from the Cognization Foundation, launched the Workforce Innovation Network (WIN) to help states recover from the pandemic.
Launched in January 2021, the objective of WIN is to secure assistance for displaced workers and affected businesses, while building new frameworks and interventions to support a more equitable economic recovery. “As governors lead efforts to promote equitable and forward-looking economic recovery in their states and territories, the Workforce Innovation Network helps facilitate innovative state-level policy solutions that improve employment and workforce outcomes,” says the NGA.7
WIN provides funding to help states build capacity for near-term innovation and longer-term strategies to prepare their workforces for a post-COVID-19 economy. WIN plans to focus on four areas: expanding access to essential support services, rapidly connecting job-seekers to work, advancing digital access and skill development, and enhancing job quality for all workers.
To join WIN and receive grants to undertake this work, states must submit detailed proposals about how they will create new virtual service delivery
Up to 4.9 million low-wage U.S. workers may need to transition into higher-wage roles and DEVELOP NEW SKILLS to remain employed in the digital economy, according to McKinsey.
platforms, digital inclusion and skill development strategies, and equitable access to high-quality work opportunities via the adoption of new state job quality and self-sufficiency standards. States that have joined WIN so far include Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, and Washington.
As transformation accelerates, partnerships will become more critical, says Kevin Mills, head of Government Partnerships at Coursera.8 Workforce agencies and employers need to work closely to anchor training initiatives to high-demand skills, as well as provide direct pathways to job placement. Aggregating and using real-time progression and outcomes data will help workforce development agencies personalize career exploration, reskilling, and job placement for unemployed workers.
“Workforce development programs will be key to increasing equitable participation in the digital economy,” Mills says. “Collaboration among workforce development agencies, educators, and employers will be critical to level the playing field for workers and unlock economic opportunity for communities across the country.”~
1 https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2020USCCF_
TPMUpskillReport.pdf 2 https://www.kychamber.com/news/2021/06/09/united-we-stand-kentuckyssignature-industries-team-talent-pipeline-management 3 https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210609005235/en/Coursera-
Global-Skills-Report-2021-Finds-US-Behind-in-Digital-Skills-Ranked-29th-Globally 4 https://www.tn.gov/workforce/general-resources/news/2021/4/8/tennesseeoffers-free-online-courses-to-advance-careers.html 5 https://www.googlecloudpresscorner.com/2021-03-01-State-of-Rhode-Island-
Partners-with-Google-Cloud-to-Reimagine-the-Future-of-Workforce-Development 6 https://www.birminghamtimes.com/2020/07/jumpstartal-launches-innovative-workforce-initiative-in-alabama/ 7 https://www.nga.org/news/press-releases/national-governors-association-cognizantu-s-foundation-launch-workforce-innovation-network-to-support-a-robust-equitablerecovery/ 8 https://www.nawb.org/modernizing-workforce-development-programs
Site and Facility Planning E-mail Newsletter
This Week
Area Development editors aggregate the most industry-relevant site and facility planning features and commentary from the best sources around the web. Also included is a roundup of the most important news items from the Area Development Online News Desk.
The Insider
Exclusive online content including the latest industry-wide studies and research as well as features from Area Development magazine focusing on all aspects of site and facility planning.
Delivering What the Others Don’t
For more information or to sign up, go to www.areadevelopment.com/newsletter
IOWA’S
SKILLED WORKFORCE CREATES OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS
With a deep understanding of the needs of today’s business leaders, the state of Iowa presents an attractive option for relocation or expansion.
Iowa Economic Development Authority,
1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 200 Des Moines, Iowa 50315 USA 515.348.6200
opportunities@iowaeda.com www.iowaeda.com
As industry leaders contend with headwinds from an evolving business landscape and shifts in workforce readiness and availability, innovative solutions are necessary to mitigate these challenges and realize sustained growth. With a deep understanding of the needs of today’s business leaders, Iowa presents an attractive option for relocation or expansion. Ripe for new opportunities, cities across the state are home to a skilled workforce that fuels a commitment to innovation. And with dynamic communities, business-friendly regulations, efficient infrastructure, and extensive workforce training programs, Iowa stands ready to take your business to the next level.
Investment in the Future Fuels Fast Growth
In Council Bluffs, you’ll find no shortage of transformative placemaking projects and collaborative programs designed to meet the region’s current and future talent needs. This includes partnerships with the city, county, local organizations, school districts, and Iowa Western Community College, in addition to collective resource groups, which allow for quick action. The community is ready to accelerate entrepreneurship, grow businesses, and more. Visit councilbluffsiowa.com for more information.
The city of Norwalk has grown 43 percent in the last 10 years due to its top-ranked school districts, available commercial land, and new home construction — all of which have proven attractive to its workforce. This very workforce has helped Norwalk achieve a markedly low business turnover rate and reinvest significantly back into the community, cementing Norwalk as one of the fastest-growing areas in the Des Moines metro. Learn more at norwalk.iowa.gov.
Prime Locations Provide Connections to the World
The Quad Cities is an attractive option for leaders looking for an accessible location and booming economy. Creative energy, homegrown businesses, and legacy companies shape a region that’s both down to earth and inspired by innovation. The forward-thinking communities lie along the mighty Mississippi River, a vital part of Iowa’s infrastructure. The five largest industries providing employment and training opportunities include manufacturing, agricultural innovation, corporate operations, defense, and logistics. Discover more at
quadcitieschamber.com.
In central Iowa, Grinnell continues to attract innovators and thought leaders, thanks to its low cost of living, central geographic location, and innovative contributions from its world-renowned liberal arts college. The community prides itself on keeping its talent pool at home, retaining graduates from a world-class education, which means more motivated laborers, lower startup and training costs, a shorter training period, and homegrown pride in quality and productivity. Visit grinnelliowa.gov for more info.
Iowa is committed to investing in the men and women who fuel the economy by providing the skills and opportunities they need to excel in their fields. Considering relocation or expansion? Find out how Iowa’s workforce can benefit your business at IowaEDA.com.
