The Richland-Crawford Workforce Development Board believes there are enough jobs to go around, and according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and Bureau of Labor Market Information, more jobs are on the way.
“When it comes to our two-county area, manufacturing and health care are our primary drivers. That’s probably not a surprise to anyone,” said Teresa Alt, executive director of the workforce development board. “When you look at what we can do with our workforce development dollars, we’re looking for short-term training. Either a year or two of training to get their certificates or maybe an associates degree.”
The most growth in the area is expected to be in healthcare and social assistance with 68,000 additional jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Market Information in a report from June 2015. From 2012 to 2022, total employment is projected to increase 6.6 percent, equal to 134,400 jobs.
Alt said Richland-Crawford Workforce Development Board helps individuals pay for training through training partnerships with Madison Adult, Pioneer Career Technology Center and North Central State College.
The plan hopes to attract feedback from businesses to help them better address areas they can match job seekers with local businesses, Alt said.Â
Currently, the development board is aware of soft skills needed by most area businesses — showing up to work on time, follow through with training, learn their skills and pass a drug test.
“Then are some more advanced skills,” Alt said. “Maybe in manufacturing or healthcare that are going to require a more specific skills or training by one of our adult training providers, but right now a lot of what we hear is (businesses need people). There is a lot of positions that are not being filled.”
Alt said she hopes businesses will provide comments to the development board’s plan.
“If there are other businesses out there saying ‘Hey, we’re looking to expand in (the future) and this is what we need. How can you help us?’ This is what we’re trying to do.”
