Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corp.: Regional skills gap report released

Media Contact:
Brian Doudna, Executive Director
Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation
brian.doudna@eauclaire-wi.com
Office: 715.834.0070

Outlines 5 action plans to strengthen workforce

October 25, 2013 (Eau Claire, WI) –Today, the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and over 20 partners released a report titled “Narrowing the Skills Gap: A Regional Workforce Initiative”. This report is the culmination of over 14 months of collaborative work by representatives of area educational institutions, businesses, business organizations, government, workforce agencies and non-profits.

The purpose of this effort was to understand how the skills and education of the area’s workforce align to the staffing needs of regional employers. A steering committee oversaw the research, developed key findings and supported development of actionable recommendations. The process was facilitated by the EDC.

The report outlines the following four key findings:
1. Individuals entering the workforce do not necessarily possess critical skills.
2. Local labor market information and trends are not easily accessible to consumers of education.
3. Communication, coordination of information, and outreach efforts are not aligned to effectively address the skills gap.
4. Targeted resources are needed to support efforts to narrow the skills gap.

The report also describes these five actionable recommendations:
1. Gather timely local labor market information.
2. Communicate local labor market information based on data generated in recommendation 1.
3. Reduce educational and training barriers for students with economic challenges.
4. Develop a regional strategy to recruit individuals trained in disciplines not available through area educational institutions.
5. Address outreach barriers impacting placement of students and adults in career exploration and work experiences.

For each recommendation project leads and supporting partners are identified and will actively lead next steps towards implementation. An monitoring task force will be formed to oversee progress and support the workgroups in addressing barriers to success.

At a luncheon today, the report was presented to the business community. The project leads presented each recommendation. Special guest Dennis Schuh, Program Manager for Wisconsin’s new Office of Skills Development also presented on related state initiatives and funding programs.

To view the full report, visit http://www.eauclaire-wi.com/edc_service/skills_gap/index.php.

ABOUT THE EAU CLAIRE AREA EDC:

The Eau Claire Area EDC, a nonprofit organization, is a public/private sector partnership that works to advance economic prosperity through business and job growth. The EDC does this by working with individuals, businesses, and communities seeking to create, retain, and expand business in the Eau Claire area. For more information contact the EDC at 715-834-0070 or visit http://www.eauclaire-wi.com.