If you liked Mark Lautman's slide yesterday, here's another slide worth absorbing from the recent Columbus2020! Update session.
It's a side-by-side comparison that sums up Lautman's core point that economic development has changed and developers need to adapt. The "before" is pre-2011 and the "after" is right now.
Let me highlight # 11 in particular.
I just like the phrase "Spec Workforce" as it describes what communities need to do to prepare for a post Baby Boomer retirees economy.
I argue Licking County is doing that better than most to build a spec workforce with robust workforce training initiatives at COTC (our community college) and at C-TEC (our vocational school).
Licking County's adult education center at C-TEC offers the 79|Seventy Manufacturing Certification program aimed at building a pool of qualified workers to enter the manufacturing workforce.
C-TEC's WorkKeys stats show more than 2,500 certified with 86% of those at Silver level or higher and fully 20% at Gold. These are above the national average.
Lautman would call that building our spec workforce. And that's what it truly is.
Which C-TEC programs will you be pushing for your children to enroll in?
ReplyDeleteIf they have the aptitude and ability to get the necessary skills training and certifications, I would encourage my kids to consider multi-craft maintenance or welding careers. Those pay more than many four-year college degrees do.
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