Workforce Development

Businesses Identify Skill Gaps in Region

Employers across North Carolina are concerned about the quality of workers they are currently hiring.  A statewide skills survey conducted by Business Service Representatives from North Carolina's Workforce Development Boards and compiled by the Centralina Workforce Development Board revealed employers are generally satisfied with the quality of preparation provided by the state's community college system by noted several issues with the current and emerging workforce.

Some 65% of companies surveyed indicated they regularly reject applicants due to lack of skills and noted a lack of workers with good computer, customer service, and communication skills.  Skills in machining, welding and various health-related fields also rated as being in short supply now and in the future.  The survey included data from 335 companies who employ between 10-999 employees.  About 39% of the respondents were from manufacturing firms, followed by health care and community services at 11.3%.  All primary sectors of the business community were represented in the survey.

Survey questions were designed to determine if there was a statewide skills shortage and also document future skills needs.  Questions were also included to probe employers' assessment of new hires and issues surrounding the recruiting process.  Respondents noted on one open ended question that they are experiencing a general lack of work ethic among the emerging workforce, coupled with weak basic skills.

David Hollars, Centralina Workforce Development Board executive director, recently stated that "this survey demonstrates the importance of an adequately trained workforce and underscores the need for the Career Readiness Certification programs now underway at the community colleges and JobLink Career Centers in our region.  North Carolina must address the identified skills gaps now if our workforce is going to compete in the global economy."

Other findings noted in the survey were:

• 63% of respondents indicated say they are willing to participate in a public forum designed to address specific workforce training issues.
• 77.2% of employers use the local newspaper to recruit workers followed by word of mouth at 76%.
• 33% of employers provide little or no training for their employees.
• 46.2% of respondents realize there are skills shortage issues and are increasing efforts to retain their current workforce.

The Business Services Representatives responsible for deployment of the survey and data collection represent the 24 Workforce Development Boards who are responsible for workforce policy development and service delivery in North Carolina's 100 counties.  For more information on the Skills Gap Survey please contact Vail Carter at (704) 348-2710 or by email at vcarter@centralina.org.

2nd Annual Workforce/Economic Development Summit a Great Success!

The Charlotte Regional Partnership and the Competitive Workforce Alliance held the 2nd Annual Regional Workforce/Economic Development Summit: Developing Regional Talent at the Charlotte Marriott Executive Park on Tuesday November 13, 2007.

The Summit had over 120 attendees from public and private sector businesses, workforce organizations, non-profits, and educational institutions from across the 16 county region.

Ronnie Bryant, president and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, kicked off the Summit.  Chris William host of "Carolina Business Review" on WTVI moderated a panel discussion featuring Dr. Peter Gorman, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, Dr. Tony Zeiss, president of Central Piedmont Community College, and Dr. Phil Dubois, chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  The panelists took questions from the audience and discussed how to identify critical talent shortages, what learning institutions are currently doing to prepare the workforce in both the hard/technical skills and soft skills employers need and, what employers, elected officials, non-profits and others can do individually and together to help/complement educational institution's efforts.

Dr. Peter Creticos, president and executive director of the Institute for Work and the Economy, followed the panel.  He spoke on successful coordination efforts between economic development, schools and workforce development on a national level.  David Hollars, executive director of the Centralina Workforce Development Board, provided specific examples on what is being done in the Charlotte USA region to bring together and coordinate economic development, workforce development and schools in terms of workforce retention and improvement.

Those attending the Summit agreed that it was a success and helped further open doors of dialogue between economic development, workforce development, and educational institutions.

"The Workforce/Economic Summit is a great example of the superior cooperation that happens everyday in our region," said David Hollars.  "Workforce development boards continue to engage our JobLink and One-Stop Career Centers and their partners to ensure that local economic developers, and the Charlotte Regional Partnership have their most important ingredient for success - a literate and skilled workforce."

The Charlotte Regional Partnership and the Competitive Workforce Alliance would like to thank all of those that attended the 2nd Annual Regional Workforce/Economic Development Summit.  An electronic evaluation will be sent out to all attendees and can also be accessed here.  Please stay tuned to the Centralina Workforce Development Board's blog at www.centralinaworks.com to find out what others from across the region thought of the Summit.

If you are interested in participating in future Workforce/Economic Development Summits please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by email at eclamp@centralina.org.  For more information on the Charlotte Regional Partnership or on the Competitive Workforce Alliance please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Developing Regional Talent: 2nd Annual Workforce Development and Economic Development Summit

Please join the Charlotte Regional Partnership and the Competitive Workforce Alliance at the 2nd Annual Regional Workforce/Economic Development Summit: Developing Regional Talent on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, at the Charlotte Marriott Executive Park from 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM with a reception to follow from 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM.

This Summit will focus on the benefits of working regionally to educate and train a competitive workforce and how to be part of this training.  An interactive panel discussion and speakers will cover how to identify critical talent shortages, what learning institutions are doing to prepare the workforce in both the hard/technical skills and soft skills employers need and, what employers, elected officials, nonprofits and others can do individually and together to help/complement educational institution's efforts.

The Summit will kick off with a panel discussion moderated by Chris William from "Carolina Business Review."  Speakers for the panel discussion will be Dr. Peter Gorman, superintendent of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, Dr. Tony Zeiss, president of Central Piedmont Community College, and Dr. Phil Dubois, chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  Dr. Peter Creticos, president and executive director of the Institute for Work and the Economy and senior research associate at Northern Illinois University Outreach, will speak on coordination efforts on a national perspective, and David Hollars, executive director of the Centralina Workforce Development Board, will address what can be done regionally to coordinate economic and workforce development in terms of workforce retention and improvement.

To register for the 2nd Annual Workforce Development and Economic Development Summit please click here.

To view the summary for the 2nd Annual Workforce Development and Economic Development Summit please click here.

To veiw the agenda for the 2nd Annual Workforce Development and Economic Development Summit please click here.