The United States is crying out for solutions to its growing jobs crisis. Many adults—particularly individuals with no more than a high school education—struggle to obtain and maintain jobs that pay enough to support their families and permit upward mobility. At the same time, some employers report difficulty finding employees with the right skills to meet their needs.
While public funding for employment and training has dwindled, there has been considerable development of alternative approaches to help people of low incomes gain skills for particular sectors.
The Workforce Development Conference will feature “Solutions to America’s Workforce Crisis,” produced and directed by the What Works Media Project, which illustrates how evaluation is baked into the DNA of two workforce programs: Per Scholas and Apprenticeship Carolina. Through the stories and experiences of students, program leadership, employees, and employers, audiences are brought to a shared understanding of what makes these models successful as well as the potential for positive impact, made possible by investments in what works.
Following the film, Jason Skidmore, CEO of Vernovis will lead a moderated panel discussion on employer-facing job training, the value of cross-sector collaboration and using evidence to drive innovation. Panelists will include Lauren Moore, Software Quality Analyst, Thrive Impact Sourcing; Leslie Courtney, Senior Director, Kroger; Jordan Vogal, Vice President, Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce; and Paul Cashen, Managing Director, Per Scholas.
The Workforce Development Conference offers educational programs to prepare attendees for changes in the workforce system and facilitates the establishment of partnerships that ultimately serve those who benefit from workforce services.
The 2018 Workforce Development Conference, planned for June 17-20, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio, is hosted by the International Association of Workforce Professionals, who for more than a century has provided education, training and information to help workforce professionals and their organizations succeed.
For additional information on the 2018 Workforce Development Conference, and to register, please click here.