Workforce Development & Reskilling: Releasing the Energy of America’s Workers

The Catalyst for Change Series explores how business leaders use moments of disruption to change the course of their companies to accelerate growth, expand services, meet new needs, and re-design the way toward a brighter future. Catalyst for Change is organized by the NOVA Economic Development Alliance (NOVA EDA).

Potential Energy.

That’s the scientific name of energy waiting to be released. Once it is, it can move mountains. It’s the same with the millions of adults; young, middle age, older, unemployed, underemployed, or in dead-end jobs who need the training and education to release their creative energy into the economy.  How about companies that need to reskill workers based on new technologies or market needs?

The U.S. is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers at the same time as unemployment and  underemployment remain high, and while wages have barely moved in 10 years. Why?  The answer: Too many people don’t have the training or skills needed to secure those higher paying and rewarding jobs.

That’s where workforce development and reskilling come in.

Programs such as Elevate Virginia, Fast Forward Virginia, and government funded educational programs like those offered by Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) provide workers with the ability to secure training and earn certifications and even their GED/High School diplomas. Creative uses of Cares Act funding such as by the City of Manassas has dedicated $400,000 for just this purpose.

What are the well-paying jobs, in which industries? What are the skills and training workers need to secure one? How do I transform my company through worker reskilling? Should my company develop an apprentice program?

Topics to be discussed:

• What are the high-growth, well-paying jobs I should target?
• What are the skills and training needed to get a good job?
• What should my company do differently to attract high potential workers?
• How does my company assess its new needs and reskill workers?
• How do I plan for a career and not only a job?
• What are the programs to help me get started?