Economic Development Recovery and Resiliency Playbook - Flipbook - Page 59
The first step in developing an educational inventory is to catalogue the high schools, colleges, universities, technical schools,
development organizations that ofer job training, and the small business development center (SBDC) in your region. For each of
the schools listed, add all the programs that ofer career preparation for the identified positions. The list should include Career
Technical Education (CTE) programs at the high schools, vocational training, community colleges, four-year colleges, private
colleges, and certificate programs. The educational inventory should include information such as the cost, expected program
length, any prerequisites or requirements, transfer opportunities, and the target skillset. Most of this information can be found
on the schools’ websites; however, it may be necessary to call schools when the program information is not readily available
online.
When the inventory is complete, the next step is to match the programs in the educational inventory with occupations identified
from the critical position data discussed in the previous section. This can be determined by matching up the skills identified for
each occupation with the target skills of each program. Consistency is key in the matching process. It is helpful to keep a record
of which programs or program types match up with each occupation. Consistency in formatting is also important, especially
if the data will be used in a data visualization program, such as Tableau. Consider creating a formatting guide if more than one
person is working on the educational inventory.
The result should reflect the current state of career training/education in the region. To visualize the results, it may be helpful
to map the educational inventory or create charts and graphs that reflect the data, such as enrollment, awards, and available
programs. The educational inventory will identify the gaps in your region’s academic and career training programs.
Industry and Educational Collaboration
With an industry sector partnership, critical positions catalogue, and educational inventory in place, the foundation has been
established for a career pathways initiative. The career pathways initiative is an approach designed to link and coordinate
education and training services in ways that enable workers to attain industry-recognized credentials and, ultimately,
employment. Career pathways are a series of connected educational programs and support services that enable students
to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for more advanced and better positions within the workforce. Each step in career
pathways is designed to advance students to a higher level of education and employment. Career pathways are designed
to provide equitable access to avenues of advancement for the unemployed, underemployed, and future members of the
workforce. There are also many initiatives that fund projects that focus on helping workers acquire the necessary skills to
advance through the workforce and acquire better, higher-paying jobs, or “high road” jobs. As part of a high road economy,
high road jobs are popular concepts in the California workforce development environment. According to the UC Berkeley Labor
Center, “a high-road economy supports businesses that compete on the basis of the quality of their products and services by
investing in their workforces; these businesses pay the wages and benefits necessary to attract and retain skilled workers, who
in turn perform high-quality work.”70
Facilitating interaction between industry and education leaders is a key component of an efective career pathways initiative.
The data collected through the process described in these sections, when combined with local government data and
information on economic development initiatives, is the platform for discussions. The data provides an assessment of what is
needed by industry leaders and what is available from the educational and vocational curricula and programs. By incorporating
your local economic development strategies and goals, you can plan ahead to include the training needs of targeted industries
that are not yet in your community. The goal is to encourage industry and education to collaboratively ensure that a skilled
workforce can be attained.
Economic Development Takeaway
By incorporating your local economic development strategies and goals, you can
plan ahead to include the training needs of targeted industries that are not yet in
your community. The goal is to encourage industry and education to collaboratively
ensure that a skilled workforce can be attained.
70
See https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/putting-california-on-the-high-road-a-jobs-and-climate-action-plan-for-2030/#:~:text=As%20the%20term%20is%20
used,turn%20perform%20high%2Dquality%20work
Labor Supply, Workforce Availability, and Training
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