The Greater Philadelphia area is facing a training crisis, and employers are in urgent need of skilled workers. According to the strategic management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, 87 percent of companies say they have skill gaps, or expect to within a few years. Philadelphia-area schools, healthcare facilities, retailers, the STEM field, and more are all suffering from an alarming number of unfilled positions.
The solution to bridging this skills gap involves arming our area’s citizens with abilities and work experiences that meet the demands of today’s modern economy. Apprenticeships and workforce development programs are being overlooked and underutilized given their ability to bring balance back to the labor market. These programs can quickly and effectively teach the skills our citizens need to build lasting careers and provide a steady stream of qualified labor to growing businesses with unfilled positions.
Training programs are already being endorsed by the state. Governor Josh Shapiro announced a $400 million such program last July that could create 10,000 new jobs in a five-year span. The Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program provides grants to organizations working on federally funded infrastructure projects to hire new workers and provide training through pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship programs. While this initiative is a solid step in the right direction, there are other resources the state must tap into to address workforce challenges: community colleges.
To close the skills gap and build the future workforce, more business partners need to work with community colleges to create apprenticeship and internship programs that support career pathways.
Community colleges are uniquely qualified to close the skills gap given their position between community members and local employers. Through apprenticeship and training programs, community colleges can help train students of all ages and provide them with opportunities to learn in ways that also address local employers’ urgent need for talent today.
One example of this is the MontcoWorks Apprenticeship Program in Information Technology at Montgomery County Community College. The IT field is rapidly growing with rising demand for skilled workers. This apprenticeship program combines advanced training and practical experience to place students at the forefront of the tech industry in their community, and to supply local IT companies with the top-tier talent they need.
Additionally, community colleges focus programming on educating and training students in high-priority occupations, including healthcare, first-responder professions, and education. Montgomery County Community College will soon launch a new Hospitality Institute to meet the demands of the growing hospitality industry in the Greater Philadelphia region.
Programs like these highlight the strong relationships community colleges have with their local economies, businesses and employers. Through apprenticeships or internships, community colleges regularly engage with employers to understand their workforce needs and connect them with students and community members who are ready to learn and take on the job. This collaborative approach to workforce development allows community colleges to provide relevant opportunities that mutually benefit students, community members, and businesses.
Community colleges have long been proactive in reaching out to their networks and partnering with local businesses. Further, they are innately flexible in designing programs to meet the needs of employers. To close the skills gap and build the future workforce, more business partners need to work with community colleges to create apprenticeship and internship programs that support career pathways.
This, along with more support from local governments for community colleges, is key to creating pathways to success and economic prosperity in our communities. It’s time to acknowledge the power of community colleges in shaping diverse, prosperous and inclusive communities.
Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, Ed.D., is president of Montgomery County Community College, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
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