Workforce Development

by Tim Probst

What is workforce development?Workforce development is the comprehensive effort to produce appropriately skilled workers that will attract and grow targeted industries, while also ensuring that all of our people can access secure and rewarding careers.

Why does workforce development matter?

Economic growth.

Inclusive job market.

Winning in the global economy.

How are we doing?Skills erosion in America:• Not enough people with the right skills for our

businesses.• Especially non-baccalaureate skills.• Businesses will have to produce good jobs somewhere

else.• Bleak future for those without the right skills.

“The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, by 2020, 15 million new US jobs will require a post-secondary credential, but the US will add only 3 million workers with those skills, leaving 12 million jobs unfilled.”

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-2003 Edition

How are we doing?

The “skill shortage is greatest for jobs requiring postsecondary education, especially for vocationally trained workers from our community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and private career schools.”

Source: 2004 Employer Survey, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

“Only 70% of all Washington State public school students from the class of 2004 graduated from high school…. Graduation rates are significantly lower for African-American students and Latinos (54%), and Native Americans (47%).”

Source: Graduation and Dropout Statistics for Washington’s Counties, Districts, and Schools 2004-05. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Olympia, WA

How are we doing?

“Roughly 15 percent of all young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are neither employed nor in school. This measure reflects those considered to be having difficulty navigating what most would consider a successful transition to adulthood.”Source: Kids Count Data Book, Annie E. Casey Foundation, 20046

How are we doing?

What is at stake?

“By 2026, China’s economy will be bigger than America’s, and India’s will be much larger than that of any individual European country (Russia, Brazil and Indonesia will not be far behind). As these countries develop, so will their voracious appetite for natural resources and human capital. There will be a fierce global scramble for oil, water and skilled labor.”

Source: “The Geopolitics of 2026,” The Economist, January 1, 2006

What is at stake?

“The growing gap between the educational performance of the rich and the poor, and between the majority and minorities, is arguably the biggest threat to America's traditional conception of itself as a meritocracy.“

Source: -  Now for the Good News, The Economist, July 1, 2005

“It’s important that our elected leaders understand that ignoring our skills erosion is gambling with our economic well-being.” - Cheryl Dale, Smiths Aerospace, Yakima, WA

“More than any other factor, the skills of our people will define our economic future.” - Tim Probst, CEO of Washington Workforce Association:

What is at stake?

What can we do about it?

1. Convene local leadership to align all workforce development resources to meet business demand, labor market demand and local economic development goals.

2. Rapidly adapt training programs to produce workers with the most-needed skills on a timely basis.

3. Help Washington residents understand the ever-changing labor market and plan for their own self-sufficiency and upward mobility, and help businesses find workers on a timely basis.

4. Help traditionally underserved populations enter successful careers, including low-income persons, the unemployed, the disabled, people of color, refugees and immigrants and youth.

Workforce development succeeds or fails based on our ability to perform 4 key goals:

Workforce Development Councils coordinate this work.

Convening the right local players to make smart local decisions.

Track record of accountability for

results.

WDCs are held accountable for 17 performance measures by the federal government and consistently meet or exceed them.

Workforce Development Councils coordinate this work.

Locally driven.

Workforce Development Councils coordinate this work.

Someone has to do it.

The skills of our people will be the primary determinant of our future economic success.

Multiple organizations impact our community’s success, and Workforce Development Councils help them all succeed together.

Workforce Development Councils coordinate this work.

Making it happen.

Achieve the 4 goals

Goal 1: Convene local leadership to align all workforce development resources to meet business demand, labor market demand and local economic development goals.

1

Achieve the 4 key goals

Goal 2: Rapidly adapt training programs to produce workers with the most-needed skills on a timely basis.

2

Making it happen.

Achieve the 4 key goals

Goal 3: Help Washington residents understand the ever-changing labor market and plan for their own self-sufficiency and upward mobility, and help businesses find workers on a timely basis.

3

Making it happen.

Achieve the 4 key goals

Goal 4: Help traditionally underserved populations enter successful careers, including low-income persons, the unemployed, the disabled, people of color, refugees and immigrants and youth.

4

Making it happen.

How can you help?

www.washingtonworkforce.org