Learners to Earners: Educating a Competitive Workforce

Learners to Earners: Educating a Competitive Workforce

Workforce credentials are the new currency of economic development, and if Alabama’s economy is going to stay competitive, we need a qualified workforce. 

According to the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce, 62 percent of jobs in Alabama will require a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2020. However, according to the Lumina Foundation, only 36.7 percent of Alabama’s working-age population has a quality postsecondary credential. Among all the Southeastern states, only Mississippi has fewer credentialed working-age adults.

One key strategy to ensure that employers have access to qualified workers is to expand college access and success for Alabama high school students. In recognition of this, the Alabama State Department of Education has made college- and career- readiness a key tenet of Plan 2020.

In this work, “college” refers to both technical and academic education beyond high school and includes degrees and high–quality credentials from two- and four-year institutions.

The business community plays an important role in creating and supporting a college-going culture where all students are expectation to graduate from high school and pursue a post-secondary degree or credential.

This presentation will equip attendees to create a community-wide college going culture

• Offering internships and apprenticeships to high school students to promote exposure to potential careers and what is required to reach their goals.
• Implementing policies that encourage or incentivize employees’ contributions to college savings accounts.
• Providing a resource area on-site with up-to- date information for parents about the college application process, financial aid, etc.
• Partnering with local student support organizations.
• Encouraging your employees to pursue higher education and/or complete their degrees. Not only will this increase the skills of your workforce, it will set a standard for the next generation.