Community colleges play a key role in job training

The Maricopa Community Colleges are the largest provider of job training in Arizona.

The dual mission of workforce development and transfer education strategically positions community colleges to be a cost-effective, responsive, accessible and proactive partner in providing a trained labor pool.

Mary Vanis
Special for The Republic

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0404vanis04.html

Business and industry must strengthen existing collaborations and help form new partnerships with community colleges throughout the state, as the colleges work to ensure that their regional economies have a skilled labor pool to meet existing and emerging workforce needs.

Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that the demand for skilled workers has risen dramatically over the past 10 years.

Workforce development at the community colleges is focused on three critical-need areas to provide those skilled workers:

• Attracting and growing a workforce, which encompasses a strong career-development pipeline starting in the K-12 system into programs at the colleges and universities;

• Continued development of the existing workforce to keep up with the changing trends and needs of businesses; and

• Re-tooling the workforce because of changes in the economy, working with dislocated workers to develop new skills and transfer existing skills to new employment areas.

Community colleges throughout the state are actively involved with their regional economic-development efforts. This partnership is crucial to ensure that training is available in response to the priority industries and the high-wage jobs being developed.

What is one thing you can do? Support your local community college and encourage strong collaborative partnerships with your business community.