Dive Brief:
- Albany Technical College (ATC), located in Georgia, held the first of its planned bimonthly Employer Workforce Outreach events on Feb. 6, according to a statement. The event focused on connecting workers, students and employers in the construction, transportation and public safety fields.
- Faced with a shortage of skilled workers in the community, a panel of employers addressed employment opportunities as well as in-demand traits and skills. The panel included employers in construction, electrical, plumbing, transportation, and municipal jobs (i.e. firefighters and police officers).
- ATC plans to host the events bimonthly to connect the workforce, learning and business communities to bolster knowledge and connect students and job seekers with employment opportunities. The next event, in April, will focus on the business, technology, and personal and public services fields.
Dive Insight:
With low unemployment comes the need to find creative solutions to fill open positions. Labor shortages top the list of business concerns for small businesses this year. ATC's events aim to address that need, positioning the school as a resource for workers and employers to connect and get to work.
More trade and technical schools are taking similar steps, working with the business community to address labor shortages. In some areas, like those affected by last year’s devastating hurricane season, they’re even fast-tracking coursework to meet demand. That’s good news for employers, who are reportedly projecting the most optimistic hiring outlook in the last ten years for 2018.
