Workforce Development Workforce Development and Education Fostering continued economic growth in Riverside County requires a capable workforce that sustains and enhances growth and development. Workforce development and education are key to supplying industry with the necessary pool of talent that drives innovation and prosperity. While the Common Core State Standards, Local Control Funding Formula, and Transitional Kindergarten are important steps in the right direction, California must be aggressive in addressing barriers to advancing education. We must continue to Invest in the renovations of school facilities at the primary, secondary and collegiate levels to make them more suitable for a 21st century learning environment. Local learning institutions must partner with the local business community for internships, job shadowing, and externships to provide a global workforce perspective, bridging the classroom to the current work environment. We must continue offering guidance and continuous support to students, from pre-K through college with a collaborative environment of school districts, community colleges, and universities. Last, we must continue to have a strong focus on “middle skill” jobs, which require post-secondary education, but not necessarily a university degree. Systematic research at the regional level is required to both quantify these gaps and craft effective responses.
Positions WD-1: Partner with local government, school systems and organizations like One Future to conduct an annual assessment on worker shortages and industry growth patterns in Riverside County. WD-2: Support public-private partnerships with business to support education programs through non-profits to fill the workforce gaps. WD-3: Monitor the implementation of the Common Core State Standards and Local Control Funding Formula to ensure students are college and career ready. WD-4: Develop more nimble models for educational institutions to respond to the rapid changes in economic and workforce trends. WD-5: Support a reorientation of education institutions at all levels to prioritize the development of skills and competencies for students to be career ready upon graduation. WD-6: Support sustained federal funding for critical basic research. WD-7: Support sustained federal funding for Small Business Innovation Research Programs (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs.
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