SCC and KCTCS launch new brand: Workforce Solutions

Aim is to train today's Kentucky workforce for jobs of tomorrow

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By Dave Cazalet, Jr., SCC Director of Public Relations

Somerset Community College and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) have launched a new brand aimed at training today's Kentucky workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. The Workforce Solutions brand was created after conducting meetings with key business leaders and CEOs across the state, and assessing the critical workforce and economic issues that must be addressed in order to transform the state's economy.

"Workforce Solutions used to be called the Office of Workforce Community and Economic Development," said Dr. Jo Marshall, the President and CEO of SCC. "The many local businesses, who have used the training and employee assessment services provided by Chief Workforce Solutions Officer David Wiles and his staff, already know about the invaluable help SCC provides to industry in our region."

Across the state, KCTCS colleges deliver high-quality, cost-effective customized training and assessment services that are designed to improve the performance and efficiency of Kentucky's business and industry. KCTCS Workforce Solutions staff designs training programs to meet the specific needs of businesses and companies. Additionally, KCTCS colleges offer open enrollment classes for hundreds of topics to help individuals, as well as companies meet their workforce training goals. Last year, Workforce Solutions provided 145,000 individuals with training and assessment services.

KCTCS' statewide system of colleges, which includes SCC, are providing anytime, anyplace customized training and support for more than 5,800 Kentucky companies, which:

• Develop a better workforce with the knowledge and skills for the jobs of the future
• Assist the Commonwealth of Kentucky in competing for and sustaining businesses and industries that thrive on innovative ideas and technologies
• Provide Kentucky workers with world-class transferable, portable skills
• Increase the productivity of Kentucky's workforce
• Improve the employability of Kentucky citizens; and
• Strengthen and improve state and local economies

Workforce Solutions at SCC is focused on providing education in high-growth, high-wage jobs, particularly in key industry growth segments such as health care, manufacturing, energy, banking and financial services and construction and trades.

Workforce Solutions at SCC has been instrumental in helping to attract new industry to the region including businesses like Presidium. The management of Presidium said that SCC and Workforce Solutions were an important factor in their decision to locate in Somerset.

According to the Kentucky Department for Workforce Investment Occupational Outlook, by 2014, 83 percent of jobs will require an associate degree or less, the types of degrees provided by KCTCS.

Kentucky's workforce age population will decline by seven percent while the 65 and older population will increase more than 64 percent. This means a loss of approximately 100,000 workers. The majority of the jobs and careers they will leave behind require specialized training.

This story was posted on 2009-11-24 16:05:54
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