Workforce Development with Employer Engagement

 
Poverty Reduction Strategy no. 8

Expand sector-specific job training in industrial sectors with good growth prospects and engage employers in the design of workforce training.

Empower workers with sector-specific job training

Hands-on apprenticeships are getting a fresh look as it becomes increasingly clear that employers need to be fully engaged to ensure worker training programs result in real jobs. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded $175 million in American Apprenticeship grants to support the training of 34,000 apprentices.

Action: Create strategic partnerships between employers and training programs, such as at community colleges, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.

Additional Benefits: Increased employment opportunities for those without a college degree, training programs that match employer needs.

Stakeholders: Workers, workforce development organizations, employers, community colleges and trade schools.

Where it’s been done: Apprentice Carolina, SC, a state program housed in the South Carolina Technical College System has been recognized by the US Dept of Labor as a national model for apprenticeship expansion. Over 31,000 students have graduated from the program since 2007 with participation from over 990 companies.

  • Best Practice #1

    Automotive Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative

    Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky: Automotive Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative is a group of 12 community and technical colleges in Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky, along with 18 automotive manufacturing companies. The collaborative designs curriculum to meet industry needs and conducts regular assessments to ensure the relevancy of the training provided. The initiative began with funding from National Science Foundation in 2006.

  • Best Practice #2

    College Employer Collaborative

    College Employer Collaborative (CEC) consists of 16 private companies (AT&T, American Express, Boeing, Cisco System, eBay, among others) and 7 community colleges nationwide. The employers have identified under-developed and in high demand courses which the comunity colleges offer. Students undergoing training in the identified areas are at an advantage of securing jobs that are well-paying.

  • Best Practice #3

    Apprentice Carolina

    South Carolina: Apprentice Carolina, SC, a state program housed in the South Carolina Technical College System has been recognized by the US Dept of Labor as a national model for apprenticeship expansion. The program devises a 2 part apprenticeship - on the job training and technical education at the local community college. Comapanies also receive a four-year $1,000 tax credit per apprentice. Over 31,000 students have graduated from the program since 2007 with participation from over 990 companies.

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