Commentary: Workforce strategy call to action
Date Posted: August 28, 2018
Posted In: Workforce,
From St. Louis Business Journal: Workforce development is the most critical issue facing the St. Louis regional business community today. According to the St. Louis Community College State of the Workforce 2018 report unveiled this month, the Midwest has 20 percent more job openings than job seekers, and the St. Louis region had over 45,000 open positions last month. No business can grow if they cannot find the right people.
Educational and training institutions cannot take on this challenge alone. Collaboration, not competition, is how we will build bridges across our region’s workforce gaps. We should be bragging to the country about the tremendous opportunities here – let’s get people excited about what we can offer.
Here is our call to action for the regional business community:
1. Embrace a regional talent and workforce strategy. Right now, the Regional Chamber is working with other leading private sector business organizations to create one set of priorities for the region around economic development, workforce and shaping our regional narrative. We need to form innovative partnerships to make sure people know about high demand jobs and the needed training, skills and education.