Kirkwood and local development organizations cite four recommendations for workforce needs in the region
A local consortium of economic development professionals just completed an extensive study of area workforce readiness and skill level factors. The Skills 2014 report was presented in a press conference at Kirkwood Community College on Thursday, June 23.
Representatives of Kirkwood, Priority One, Iowa City Area Development Group and local development organizations unveiled the study, citing workforce assets and areas of challenge to future economic strength and business growth in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington Counties. As part of the detailed study, the group also presented recommendations for development and improvement of the seven-county area’s competitive workforce stance in the regional, national and global economies.
Researchers for the report conducted extensive surveys of area employers in a dozen industry sectors. Employers were chosen across a range of company size, sector and geographic location in an attempt to provide an equal representation within the region. A total of 132 employers completed the Employer Workforce Needs survey, with 272 completing the Training and Workforce Climate survey.
Kirkwood Vice President of Continuing Education and Training Services Kim Johnson said this study, the fourth of its kind, provides important workforce information area employers and leaders need to be aware of.
“One key piece of data we saw in the Skills 2014 study is the need for more education and training for our workforce,” Johnson said. “The projections from these employers told us that this region will need almost 12,000 new and replacement workers in the next three years. More than 75 percent of these jobs will require a post-secondary education beyond high school. Local jobs are adapting to market needs. Employees need to have the skills to adapt as well.”
Priority One President Dee Baird has been a part of all four Skills surveys. She said the Skills 2014 survey shows employers solutions and ways to work together to make the area workforce better.
“The report continues to demonstrate that the world of work is more sophisticated than it was 10 years ago,” said Baird. “Education and training are important, but we’re seeing that a person’s ability to contribute to the workplace through strong social skills is equally important.”
Emerging Themes
- Regional employers are forecasting optimistic projections for new and replacement workers (11,846) primarily in the manufacturing, health care, information solutions, transportation/logistics and education sectors.
- Jobs in the region require a post-secondary education beyond high school; education and credentials remain a high priority among regional employers.
- Although improved from the Skills 2010 study, employers remain concerned about the missing basic, soft and occupational skills among job applicants. The highest area of concern from employers is the occupational skills of job applicants.
- Work-based learning experiences show promising practices, and Skills 2014 employer respondents reported their experience to be a beneficial partnership in assisting the student to gain practical work experience while assisting the business with daily work.
Recommendations
- Continue to promote, reinforce and gain endorsement from regional employers to require or recommend the Iowa National Career Readiness Certificate as well as workforce credentialing systems in general.
- Engage employers in a commitment to internships and job shadowing. Continue to invest and incentivize education and workforce systems that support employer linkages to high quality work-based learning experiences.
- Develop a regional workforce development plan and approach that supports workforce development programs and training that result in skill attainment and credentials aligned with the current and future talent and skill needs of the region’s employers.
- Leverage regional assets to attract, retain and grow more businesses and invest in human capital development. Assure that investments and policy incentives support both a regulatory and workforce climate conducive to business growth.
Earlier this month President Obama announced his desire to use skills certifications like the Iowa National Career Readiness Certificate to credential a half-million community college students over the next five years, focusing primarily on the future manufacturing workforce of America. Kirkwood Community College leads a regional employer initiative in support of the Iowa NCRC. Today 168 employers are requiring or recommending the NCRC Certificate and more than 3,800 individuals have received their NCRC Certificate through Kirkwood.
“Because of the increased importance local companies are putting on the NCRC, we’re responding to their needs by making sure our students meet these standards,” said Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich. “We are in the process of implementing the NCRC as a requirement for all of our students earning degrees in Agriculture, Business and IT, Hospitality Arts, Industrial Technologies and Nursing.”
Further information on the Skills 2014 survey is available at www.kirkwood.edu/skills2014 or from Kirkwood Continuing Education, (319) 398-5529. A copy of the report is available at the website or upon request.
The Skills 2014 report was produced cooperatively by Kirkwood Community College, Priority One, Iowa City Area Development Group and local development organizations. It focuses on the projected workforce demand in the seven-county region Kirkwood serves, through 2014. The Strategic Skills Alignment study was commissioned by ACT, in collaboration with Kirkwood Community College, ICAD and Priority One, to examine skill requirements and training capacity for jobs in demand for the Kirkwood Community College district. The combination of studies is intended to represent future workforce supply and demand, as well as projected skills gaps, in the seven-county area.