Over the last 3 months, I have traveled Richland County – shaking hands, making introductions, hearing concerns, learning about programs, talking about solutions, and enjoying countless other conversations about workforce development. These 90 days can be described in a variety of ways – eye-opening, intimidating, encouraging, educational, fascinating…
When I talk to my friends and family about my job in Workforce Development, a look of intrigue frequently comes across their faces. Almost if they want to say, “What exactly have you gotten yourself into?” When I talk to my colleagues in Economic and Workforce Development – We often look at each other and say, “What are we going to do?” When I look at data on the aging workforce, the pipeline of talent, the struggle of managing a multi-generational workforce, I often think “How did we get ourselves into this situation?” These are the moments where I feel a looming intimidation.
Here’s where I get to use one of my favorite words in the English language:
There are a number of challenges that we face in today’s workforce climate. HOWEVER, I want to tell you about the eye-opening, encouraging, educational, and fascinating things that I have seen in my travels across Richland County this quarter.
There are hundreds of people in our county who are dedicated to creating successful situations for employees. Most of these people aren’t just seeking these solutions because it is their job – they are seeking solutions because they care. They care about the well-being of our county. They care about the people who live here. They care about the future – for our children.
There are Shop Floor Group Leaders who want to make sure their employees feel supported, Re-Entry Programs that offer a forum of resources to recently released offenders, after school programs that seek to develop both character and skills in young people, Educators who are determined to create the best pathway for students to succeed, business owners who want to make sure their employees get the best continued education in their trade…
I could go on and on about the things I have seen right here in our community that are simply focused on setting businesses and employees on the path to success. My point is this: It is true that there are daunting problems in the workforce landscape. There is a shortage of “skilled” employees. Managing a diverse and multi-generational workforce is “challenge”. A large piece of our workforce is aging, and will be looking to retire very soon. HOWEVER; there is a desire and drive in Richland County to create solutions. The people I have met are dedicated to networking, utilizing the strengths of each other, learning from each other, and collaborating for success.
Together, we want to create solutions that are bigger than the problems. And for these reasons, I am encouraged and excited to be a part this community effort to drive progress and continue to realize the success that is rooted in the history of Richland County.