Evolution of Workforce Challenges in YoCo BY KEVIN J. SCHREIBER PRESIDENT & CEO, YORK COUNTY ECONOMIC ALLIANCE In York County, the unemployment rate hovers at 3.7
a talent attraction tool for businesses to showcase YoCo
percent. We have a population of 440,000, with about
to prospective employees. Through video, print, and web
231,000 in the labor force, of whom 223,000 are
presence, we engage local talent to share their “why
employed. Meaning that there are an approximately
York” story, and what they love about our community. This
7,800 unemployed York County residents. While this is
information is available to any business and organization
excellent news for our community, indicating that most
throughout York County. It is all available at www.
residents have secure employment, this creates a new
CreativityUnleashed.com. We look forward to aligning
and unchartered obstacle for employers. The York County
the Creativity Unleashed brand to our new countywide
Economic Alliance consistently hears from our members
branding efforts that will launch in 2019.
and partners the need to educate, train, attract, and retain a workforce in YoCo. This sentiment is true for all major
The YCEA has also made a concerted effort to increase
industries – from trades and manufacturing, to healthcare,
our outreach to women and minority-owned businesses
to leaders in education.
through “Get Connected” events. Established initially to engage those smaller companies in The Yorktowne Hotel
Through our strategic planning process, the YCEA has
Project, it is our goal to involve as many local companies as
dedicated resources to determining how we can move
possible in this historic renovation process. We recognize
the needle in the workforce challenge. This past June,
that smaller companies often don’t have the capacity
we hosted a Business and Education Luncheon to
to bid on large-scale projects, but through strategic
bring school district superintendents, representatives
partnerships, we hope more will be part of The Yorktowne
from postsecondary education, and business leaders
Hotel. Furthermore, as the hotel will employ individuals in
of our major industries to the table together to discuss
the hospitality sector, we have begun both a partnership
challenges and solutions to the ongoing challenges facing
with York College to engage its hospitality students and
our employment pipeline [read more on that on pages 10
are developing a hospitality curriculum to help train future
& 11!]. This is the beginning of the process to develop a
Yorktowne employees and individuals throughout this
comprehensive countywide plan to train, retain, and attract
important industry in YoCo.
the individuals needed to keep our industries humming here in YoCo. This plan will help identify the obstacles
Whether it’s engaging small companies to achieve big
and opportunities, and help to set the priority agenda to
goals, educating and retaining a local workforce, or
meet the needs of our businesses while also giving a road
attracting new “future lovers of YoCo,” the YCEA aims to
map for all our workforce partners to collaboratively work
help YOU solve your workforce challenges. We don’t have
together to best leverage resources.
all the answers, but we look forward to working with you to identify and begin to move the needle on the adaptation
When it comes to attracting employees from outside
and evolution of our YoCo workforce.
the region, to meet the demand of the workforce, the YCEA spearheads the “Creativity Unleashed” program – 05 YoCo CONNECT | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 | YCEAPA.ORG
