Connecting workers to job opportunities and long-term career paths is a critical component of sustainable economic growth that is often hampered by a lack of information sharing and coordination among organizations. TIP’s proprietary Job Quality and Access tool, developed in collaboration with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, provides multi-dimensional data that helps identify higher quality and more accessible jobs across geographies.
Students often feel pressured to pursue four-year degrees despite skyrocketing education costs. However, the value of affordable, shorter educational pathways, such as associate’s degrees and technical certificates, is increasingly evident. Institutions like Texas State Technical College and San Jacinto College demonstrate the benefits of skill-specific training, supported by philanthropic and industry investments, offering promising alternatives to traditional college routes.
Supporting Shorter, More Affordable Pathways to Quality Jobs Read More
In May, Katrina Parkey Fraser attended the National Association of Workforce Development Professional’s 40th annual conference in San Antonio. Katrina’s latest post shares insights gained from her time at the convening of over 2,000 workforce professionals from across the country.
As technology advances, a skills gap has emerged between students’ education and employers’ needs, threatening future workforce readiness. Work-based learning programs, which integrate real-world experiences and employer insights into education, offer a viable solution. This blog post explores three examples of programs that help students acquire essential skills and better prepare for high-demand jobs, addressing talent shortages in major sectors.
Limited access to the education and training needed to acquire high-demand skills and systemic biases in hiring decisions continue to perpetuate skills gaps and lead to underrepresentation in high-paying occupations. This post highlights two inclusive strategies—tailored community-based training programs and targeted recruitment—that economic developers can champion to help increase representation and bridge opportunity gaps.
Opportunity, Representation, and Participation In Workforce Development Read More
While generative AI may not be a singular historical moment, it is a significant one in the longer arc of technological change. TIP managing partner Jon Roberts considers the implications of generative AI and offers actions that economic developers can take to both mitigate the challenges and leverage the opportunities facing their local economies and workforces.
In June, Tom Stellman and Katrina Parkey attended JFF’s Horizons in New Orleans. In Katrina’s latest post, she shares some insights gained from her time at JFF’s annual summit.
Command-and-control leadership no longer works. In a rapidly changing world, economic development organizations face numerous obstacles to sustainable growth. TIP president Tracye McDaniel shares her insights about connected leadership—what it is and how it can be effectively harnessed by economic developers. Rooted in inclusivity, connected leadership can better position organizations and communities for resilience today and tomorrow.
Harnessing the Power of Connected Leadership for Inclusive Economic Development Read More
In late March, Tom Stellman and Katrina Parkey attended the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) 2023 Forum in Washington, DC. In Katrina’s latest post, she shares some insights gained from her time at NAWB and from her recent talent-focused consulting engagements.
Faced with tight labor markets and ongoing skills-based shortages, talent attraction efforts benefit from creative approaches. Examples include tailoring talent recruitment initiatives to a specific audience or market; offering prospective residents meaningful information, services, and opportunities; and leveraging community expertise.
Triptychs: Attracting Talent in a Tight Labor Market Read More
