Workforce Development in MSMike Eaton, ICC President

Workforce Development

Mississippi’s Biggest Problem?-State Economist Dr. Darrin Webb

The Status of Human Capital in Our State.

Workforce Development

Human Capital:The value of a human being as he or she steps up to the pay window on a Friday. This perspective opens the door to consider all the things that contribute to each person’s value.

Workforce Development

Such a list would include: education, health care, nutrition, housing, technology, transportation and many other items that make for a robust employee.

Workforce Development

The cumulative value of human capital has

everything to say about the nature of

Mississippi’s workforce as we move forward

in an increasingly more high tech world.

Workforce Development

The current status of human capital in

our state should be a cause of concern.

A few predictions and perceptions to

consider…

Workforce Development• Currently, there are about 5 million

U.S. jobs unfilled for lack of highly trained technical workers as estimated by Wall Street analysts.

• By 2040, 47% of manufacturing jobs, now held by humans, will be automated.

Workforce Development• Almost half of the workforce will be

displaced by machines and robots and the workforce will need to be skilled enough to build these machines and program and maintain them.

How prepared is Mississippi to create this type of workforce and retrain those who will lose jobs in this new reality?

Workforce Development• Mississippi and Alaska were the

only two states to experience a net jobs loss in 2014, as reported by the Pew Charitable Trust.

Workforce DevelopmentMississippi ranked :• 49th as one of the worst states in which to

earn a living and receive an education and• 50th in access to the internet, healthcare

and job opportunities.According to a Washington Post article reporting data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Workforce DevelopmentMississippi ranked :• 50th as a state where you would like to do

business, as characterized by Forbes Magazine.

The article’s main criticism centered on the lack of potential for developing a future workforce skilled for high-tech manufacturing.

Workforce DevelopmentMississippi ranked :• 50th in a recent Schott Foundation

report examining high school graduation rates for males.

Only 51% of African-American males and 63% of Caucasian males find success culminating in high school graduation.

Workforce DevelopmentSo…we have our work cut out for us!

Human capital includes education, technology, healthcare and so much more. • None of this will be cheap or easy.

Workforce DevelopmentThe 2015 Mississippi legislature slowed the free fall but the train is gaining speed as it leaves the station. The new legislature in 2016 will have to craft proper funding and implement programs that improve that status of human capital across the state. And we all have to play our part.

Julia HoustonAdult Education Director

Barriers • Cultural Mindset toward both education and employment.• Low educational function levels upon enrollment.• Retention and Completion – Incentive to stay in class and

complete high school equivalency.• Completers not making next steps into college, training, or

employment.

Julia HoustonAdult Education Director

Addressing the Barriers • Change community and family attitudes regarding education and

employment.• Intensive, evidence-based programs designed to target low reading and math

levels.• Engage the students in the classrooms, support students through financial

and other incentives.• Career interest inventory and counseling activities to determine a feasible

and reasonable next step, as well as contextualized learning engagements.

Julia HoustonAdult Education Director

Working to Eliminate the Barriers • WIOA• Adult Education – Evidence Based Instruction• MI-Best through Kellogg grant – Career Pathway Prep to enter Career

Pathways• SNAP• Dual Enrollment opportunities• Tuition Assistance

Brad GatesWIA Team Leader

Innovation• The Innovative approach chosen by Mississippi will lead to

increased opportunities to serve both the general public and our business partners.

• Planning Teams consist of leaders from a broad range of agencies and backgrounds.

• Better communication between agencies and partners.

Brad GatesWIA Team Leader

Opportunity• WIOA presents unprecedented opportunities• Career Pathways are in place• Sector Strategies are in place• Career Technical Programs are in placeWe simply need to communicate the urgency of participation.

Lee OswaltWorkforce Training Director

Challenges in Capacity • Customer Base Growth• Workforce Program and Service Growth• Community College Consortium’s Offer Resource

Efficiencies• Capacity Needs: Skilled Trainers, Current Technology, and

Flexible Funding

Tony TiceDean of Career & Technical Instruction

Opportunities

• AMT – Advanced Manufacturing Technicians• Three Rivers Planning and Development District –

Make it in America Grant• Lee County Schools Dual Credit Program through CTE