Top-20 region globally

2. By 2025 Top-20 region globally 64% Credentialed workforce

4. 13 counties • 1.6M people • 10,000+ employers • $5.7B economic output • 860,000 in the workforce • 90+ school districts • 13 major colleges & universities • 70,000 college students

7. WORKING GROUPS • Early childhood development • K-12 education • College and career readiness • Higher education • Veteran employment • Employer HR Practices • Entrepreneurism • Talent attraction and retention • Workforce development Illuminate  Evaluate Advocate

8. Outcomes • Student performance declines after third grade • Too many college freshmen require a remedial courses • Post-secondary education attainment trails the top performing communities

9. Future success will depend upon growing and attracting an educated workforce 64% 100,000 More than 60% of all jobs in 2025 will require a post-secondary education.

10. A Clear and Present Challenge: The region’s young adults are falling behind in educational attainment. Source: U.S. Census American Community Survey, 2011.

11. A wide set of skills across numerous industries are required in the TALENT 2025 region. Source: Burning Glass.

12. Preliminary survey results: It is a challenge to find workers with the following skills or education.

13. What Employers WantJob postings lack educational requirements Source: Burning Glass.

14. The challenge of communication If employers do not post the required degrees or certificates of their position, it is very likely that they will attract unqualified applicants. Moreover, it makes it more difficult for applicants and educators to know what training is in demand.

15. What organizations are the most helpful to businesses?

16. Aligning Supply & Demand Advisory Councils

18. Focus Group Findings: Companies’ concerns about the education system K -12 • Need for more hands-on training • Companies teaching newer skill sets than what is being taught in high school –companies partner with schools to train teachers to teach for the industry • High school counselors need to assist, nurture, and guide students • Teach problem-solving earlier - don’t wait until college Post Secondary • College students need better communication skills • More collaboration/partnerships - with college professors on projects, to address issues/concerns, case studies, career services, etc. • Colleges need to assist students to develop a well-rounded resume – don’t just focus on GPA Both • Limited resources – cuts to programs/courses impacts future workforce

19. Older individuals cannot be ignored when working to achieve the TALENT 2025 goal. Source: IPUMS USA.

20. Performance data • West MI • County-level • Leading practices • Working Groups

21. The Information Barrier • The middle-skills jobs of today and tomorrow will require more training than yesterday; however: • Too many educators and job seekers are not aware of the required skill sets for these positions. • Only if the region’s education and workforce systems are closely aligned with the needs of the employers will labor mismatches be avoided.

22. Projected TALENT 2025 Region’s Workforce Supply Flow Employment 65 and older Measurement Error In-Migrants Emerging workforce (HS & college grads) Existing workforce age 50-64 33% Existing workforce age 18-49 15% 8% 34%

23. What Employers Need Source: Burning Glass & BLS Occupational Employment Survey

24. What Employers Need Soft Skills Marketing Comm. Technical Technology Experience Math Education Fit • Teamwork • Problem solving • Reliability • Leadership • Being professional • Creative thinking • Atten-dance • Work ethic • Decision making • Results-oriented thinking • Digital marketing • Social • media • Degrees in Law, RN, Engineering • Silver • WorkKeys • Mfg experience • Internship or work experience • Basic math • Statistical data analysis • Algebra • Geometry • Trig. • Good fit • Desire to learn • Being resilient • Ability to understand employer needs • Ability to work in different workplace environments • Computer skills (MS Office) • E-learning tools • Writing code • Engineering • Ability to read blueprints • Welding • Machining • Materials science • Clinical medical skills • Precision measurement • Machine guarding • Reading • Customer service • Writing • Language • Verbal commun.

25. Few job postings specify any required certificates for the positions. Source: Burning Glass.

26. Issues to be addressed by educators • Promote career paths to skills, not only to 2- and 4-year college degrees • Integrate soft skills training into course work • Invest in resources to coordinate (business mentors, curriculum, projects, tours, internships, apprenticeships, work study) • More STEM training • Equipment, technology and curriculum should mirror what’s used in industry today

27. Innovative Practices (West Michigan) Herman Miller Academy Haworth/IChallengeU Michigan College Advising Corps Local Area College Access Networks Baldwin Promise Muskegon Opportunity University Prep Academy Schools of Hope Ready for School First Steps Believe 2 Become Kent Schools Services Network

28. Where does business fit in? • Partnering with the area’s middle and high schools to bring a better understanding of the world of work for both students, parents, and teachers • Working with the area’s ISDs and community colleges to identify key workplace know how skills and needed technical skills