Workforce Now, Critical Employment Skills Analysis By: Dr. John Meyer Dean of the School of Business and Technology Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, Florida Presented to: National Council for Workforce Education 2014 National Conference Pittsburgh, PA 10/30/2014

Today’s Conversation Brief background information Overview of study methodologies Overview of findings Demonstrate utility of the project Share strategies for successfully engaging local employers who may be reluctant to share information Propose strategies for successfully replicating the project to aid in economic development in other regions Q&A

Background: Workforce Now Research Project Companies EducatorsIndustries

Methodology, Research Study 1 Look at three major employers in the region: Medical device manufacturer and global distributor Fashion design and retail Operator of hospitals and acute care facilities Companies

Methodology, Research Study 2 Three major regional employment sectors (not represented by key/large employers): – Finance, Insurance, and Banking – Construction and Manufacturing – Tourism and Hospitality Industries

Methodology, Research Study 3 Survey of Educational Leaders from: – Public and Private Universities – Public State College – Private not-for-profit Colleges – K-12 systems – Area Technical Centers Educators

Findings, Research Study 1 (3 employers) Each company had a variety of difficult-to-fill positions, with many current openings Each company determined that it needed to actively recruit outside of the region Each company wanted a more active collaboration with local educational institutions Information Technology positions represented a top employment gap at each company Each company identified a “Foundational Skills” gap

Findings, Research Study 2 (3 sectors) Common themes – Focus on technology skills – Written and oral communication skills – Basic business math skills – Critical thinking, teamwork problem solving Sector specific

Findings, Research Study 3 (Education) Educators cited: – A lack of predictive data to help determine when to start new programs/shutter existing ones – Desire to get more current data to better understand the regional labor market needs – Funding and state mandates are issues – The Top 5 changes that could make them more responsive to industry

Utility Positive attention drawn to the issues New programs Consultative benefits Collaborative benefits Economic development Companies EducatorsIndustries

Strategies to Engage Local Employers Employers primed to be receptive Educators primed to respond Integrity of the individual researchers EDCs and Chambers saw the economic need New leadership at area educational institutions freed of baggage of the past Support of the local newspaper and a local consortium of investors Buy in from the region

Strategies for Project Replication Identify most responsive employers Actively listen, take the tour, observe, talk to people Examine your own premises Engage the Chambers and the EDCs Publicly promote your findings or activities Publicly promote resultant actions - everywhere Leverage this work into other alliances

In Summary Workforce Now is – A regional initiative – Performing original research on critical skills gaps and other issues impacting the local workforce – Continuing to research areas of interest to the region – A positive tool for engaging with employers – Solidifying FSW’s role in regional economic development

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