WORKFORCE - mochamber.com

1 WORKFORCE . A Call to Action A Call to Action Contents I. Introduction .. 3. II. Executive Summary.. 4. III. The State of Missouri's WORKFORCE .. 8. IV. Missouri's WORKFORCE System.. 20. V. The Path Forward: A Call to Action.. 24. A. Maximize Business Engagement.. 24. B. Focus on Improving Worker Skills .. 26. C. Prioritize Regional Sector Strategies .. 30. D. Increase Career Awareness.. 32. E. Attract and Retain More Talent .. 34. F. Improve Communications for All Stakeholders.. 36. WORKFORCE2030: A Call to Action 1. ABOUT THE AUTHORS. This report was authored by Ted Partnership. His latest research in the Research Triangle region Abernathy and Greg Payne, with has focused on Re-Imagining of North Carolina. Prior to that contributions by Missouri Chamber WORKFORCE Development, Making he assisted local governments in of Commerce and Industry staff.

2 Manufacturing More Competitive, North Carolina with economic and analyzing 25 Years of Rural and business development efforts Ted Abernathy is the Managing Economic Development Policy. and did land-use planning in the Partner of Economic Leadership Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. At LLC, a Raleigh NC-based company Ted received his bachelor's degree Economic Leadership, Greg has that helps businesses, and places, from the University of North lead efforts to develop economic increase their competitiveness. Carolina at Chapel Hill and his strategies for county comprehensive Ted has 38 years of experience master's from Johns Hopkins plans, created regional WORKFORCE directing economic development University. He is a graduate of the assessments, and analyzed national and WORKFORCE development Economic Development Institute best practices in both economic programs.

3 From 2008-2013, Ted and is an Eisenhower Fellow for development and WORKFORCE was the Executive Director of the global economics. development. Southern Growth Policies Board, a 42-year old public policy think Greg Payne joined Economic Greg received his bachelor's tank that provided research to states Leadership as Vice President degree from Duke University, and communities across the South. following lengthy experience in and his master's in Urban and Before Southern Growth, Ted was commercial real estate, economic Environmental Planning from the a practicing economic developer development, and land use University of Virginia. He is also a for 28 years, including 8 years as planning. He worked for more Certified Commercial Investment Executive Vice President/COO than 13 years as a commercial Member and graduate of the for the Research Triangle Regional and investment real estate broker Economic Development Institute.

4 2 WORKFORCE2030: A Call to Action I. Introduction Introduction While predicting the economic students for the WORKFORCE , future is difficult, one fact is certain: and only 30 percent agree that The most successful businesses that Missouri attracts or can retain top emerge over the coming decades will talent. One CEO summed up our locate themselves where they have challenge recently when he told us: access to a top-quality WORKFORCE . We cannot find enough workers We want to be sure Missouri is that with the right skills. There is a In today's fierce competition place. mismatch, and unless somebody for jobs, WORKFORCE has does something soon, we won't be emerged as the most But first, Missouri must overcome able to grow in Missouri.. effective weapon. The several challenges: stagnant countries, states and regions WORKFORCE growth, the impending In the process of producing this that recognize that fact and retirement of older workers, study, we collected quantitative wisely invest in strategic a changing job landscape, a labor market data.

5 We also reached widening skills gap and a WORKFORCE out to education and WORKFORCE WORKFORCE development and development system in need of leaders, policymakers, and many retention initiatives will win retooling, to name a few. However, of our state's employers to ask the jobs war. The rest likely we have great assets too. Missouri what we need to do. Education will be left behind. excels in many areas of the new and WORKFORCE leaders talked about economy. We've earned good marks capacity, consistency, collaboration, in graduation rates. We have regions better information and more doing innovative work in many private-sector engagement. WORKFORCE areas. Leadership of Policymakers stressed alignment, Missouri's WORKFORCE development return on investment and more arm is energized and capable of public awareness.

6 Employers taking Missouri's system to the next expressed concerns about the level. quantity and quality of the available WORKFORCE , the mismatch between WORKFORCE 2030 was commissioned what is being taught and the skills to identify Missouri's WORKFORCE they need, the overall lack of soft challenges and, most important, skills among young workers, and find innovative ways to address them the rising costs of finding talent. and leverage our assets. This study is part of the Missouri Chamber's The task is daunting, but we can, overarching Missouri 2030 strategic and we must, do better. By listening One CEO summed up plan to reposition Missouri as a to the state's employers, we know our challenge recently global leader. Through research from students must be better educated when he told us: We Gallup, we know that the leading and more work-ready.

7 We know cannot find enough concern of Missouri employers businesses must be more engaged workers with the is the availability of a qualified in developing the education and right skills. There is a WORKFORCE . Gallup's survey of 1,000 training curriculum and in offering mismatch, and unless Missouri employers found that only more work experience. We also somebody does 44 percent of business leaders are know that unless we work together, something soon, we satisfied with the state's availability share better information and take won't be able to grow of skilled workers. Only 15 percent aggressive actions, Missouri will not in Missouri.. agree that high schools are preparing win the jobs war. WORKFORCE2030: A Call to Action 3. II. Executive Summary WORKFORCE 2030 was commissioned to identify challenges that Missouri must overcome and the assets our state can leverage to prepare our WORKFORCE for the future.

8 The study is part of the Missouri Chamber's overarching Missouri 2030. strategic plan to reposition our state as a global leader. As with all of the research projects produced through Missouri 2030, we first reached out to our employers for input to guide our work. We also spoke with education and WORKFORCE leaders and policymakers. In addition, we explored best practices in Missouri and throughout the nation. Through our strategic plan, Missouri 2030, we have made significant strides to improve the state's business climate. Our next challenge is to improve our WORKFORCE . To accomplish that goal, we recommend Missourians work together to: 4 WORKFORCE2030: A Call to Action Executive Summary A. Maximize Business B. Focus on Improving 4) Review Missouri's financial Engagement Worker Skills aid delivery system and apply job-driven aid policies where Worker shortages and skills gaps are The imperative to upskill current possible.

9 Limiting businesses' growth. Business workers and right skill those 5) Make Missouri a 100. leaders know what skills they need entering the WORKFORCE must be a top percent-certified Work Ready and are ready to engage. We should priority for education and WORKFORCE Communities state by involving position the business community partners. the 24 percent of counties not to lead the transition to a demand- active in the program. Also driven WORKFORCE . 1) Align career pathway elements make the WorkKeys assessment and services through education tests more accessible. 1) Use a public-private partnership and training systems. The 6) Implement a statewide program to better inform businesses career-focused curricula and for all prison inmates to have of available WORKFORCE services offered by K-12 schools, a WorkKeys assessment, with development programs and community colleges, universities most inmates getting the opportunities by working and job centers in Missouri National Career Readiness through the more than 140 should be coordinated with each Certificate and becoming members of the Missouri other and with industry needs job-ready by the time of their Chamber Federation, a group of for in-demand jobs.

10 Release. Missouri's most influential local 2) Integrate education and training 7) Expand the Advanced chambers of commerce, and by addressing basic skill needs Manufacturing Technician elevate business champions for (like spoken or written English) program, a pathway for students WORKFORCE partnerships in each concurrently with targeted to earn an associate degree that region of Missouri. training for in-demand jobs. leads to job placement. 2) Collaborate with the business 3) Provide more opportunities 8) Encourage employers to community to conduct an for stackable credentials, using recognize the value of the newly annual review of the state's shorter-term training models developed Missouri Career and anticipated WORKFORCE needs and and making education and Technical Education (CTE).