More than 150 employers and educators from across the Western Iowa Advantage (WIAD) eight county region met at the Carrollton Inn in Carroll on Wednesday, Sept. 17, to help shape the workforce of tomorrow. Assisting with the program for the day was Iowa Workforce Development and IowaWORKS.
WIAD chairman Chad Schreck opened the program with comments on the need to support local companies and communities with an adequate workforce. The goal of the day was to begin the discussion between schools and businesses so that both can better connect students to careers in technical fields and others that have abundant employment opportunities in the region.
One program featured was EAST from the Creston schools, a program that provides hands-on experience to help guide students to a chosen career. Information presented also discussed the myth that four-year degrees are required for a quality job, and dispelled the notion that higher incomes only come as a result of higher education. Skills remain key, however, and students need the opportunity to critically think, problem-solve and communicate to thrive in today’s workforce. “Soft skills,” or those related to finding, obtaining, and keeping a job are most often quoted as lacking by employers, and some that are the most elusive to instill.
Round table discussions involved brainstorming and collaborating with business partners and education representatives to establish a committee to encourage a skilled workforce for the region. The conclusion of all speakers is that business and education will need to cooperate so the region can successfully boast an abundant, well-trained workforce and position itself for growth, benefiting workers, employers and their communities.
Workforce has become the number one issue in enticing new and expanded businesses and industries both in Iowa and nationwide. Among companies, 83 percent report a moderate to serious shortage of skilled workers, and 69 percent expect the shortage to grow worse in the next three to five years.
Information presented demonstrated that the world is changing. In the new economy a university degree is no longer a guarantee for financial success as it was for previous generations, Today’s tradesperson’s average age is 56, and there will be a critical need to fill the shoes of these entrepreneurs when they retire in the next five to fifteen years. For more information, you can watch this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcNSpKX8kVs.
In addition to economic development, government, and non-profits, the conference’s 170 attendees included persons from 18 school districts, eight colleges, and dozens of businesses. Seventy people volunteered to form a committee to collaborate in the future on methods to address the region’s workforce challenges and plan a path for future growth in west central Iowa.
Western Iowa Advantage is a partnership of economic development organizations in Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, Ida, and Sac Counties dedicated to promoting Western Iowa for business and job attraction and retention.
