A strong and diverse workforce is the backbone of any local economy. The availability of skills enhancement enables workers to fill higher-wage jobs and, by doing so, boosts economic prosperity both for their families and for the community.
Many communities face shortages of trained workers. Finding skilled workers is perhaps the most important barrier to growth for many companies – growth that could boost the local economy.
Fortunately, Jay County already has a strong workforce development system in place through the John Jay Center for Learning.
The need to enhance the workforce pipeline is a critical part of the Jay County Economic Development Plan.[1] While the plan addressed several economic issues, two important goals of the plan were:
Determine the workforce development related needs of priority employers in Jay County; and,
Provide workforce development training for youth and adults of targeted employers.
The Community Prosperity Chart Book[2], completed in July 2019, reached a similar conclusion. Jay County “has numerous larger employers … and we recommend a robust and aggressive larger employer retention and expansion strategy”. This strategy included enhancing the workforce development system, along with other important matters. “Workforce development includes recruitment and skills training,” the report said.
Update from Meeting held Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 9am at The Portland Foundation
Education and Workforce Development – Rusty Inman shared that there are 18 new students in the Skills Trac program since May. The students have earned 22 certificates in the program.
What common challenge are we addressing collectively?
The Goals
What are our common goals?
The Work
What are the catalytic projects?
The Metrics
What are the shared metrics we want to improve?
The Outcomes
What community level difference is made?
Jay County has a home-grown learning system that cultivates the talent employers need and increases educational attainment.
Jay County coordinates talent with equitable economic opportunities to raise household income and earnings.
Adult Workforce Training
An increasing number of residents achieve high value certifications in targeted workforce areas
John Jay Center for Learning offers courses based on needs of local employers
Enrollment in targeted workforce development skills courses
Number of certifications awarded in targeted areas
Employment and Wages
Residents who upgrade their skills increase their household income
JJCL and Jay County Economic Development Corp. work to increase participation in JJCL job skills and outplacement programs
Wages and benefits earned after completion of JJCL job skills programs compared to prior wages and benefits
Future Talent Pipeline
Schools and community collaborate to provide mentoring programs and engaging learning opportunities that provide the skills and developmental assets children need to thrive
4-H Youth Development Programs
Other out-of-school-time (OST) programs TBD
Career-embedded learning opportunities TBD by high school
No. of youth engaged in 4-H programs
No. and % of students engaged in other OST programs and jobs
No. and % of students who progress toward "industry standard" credentials in high school
Labor force levels improve
Workforce participation improves
Average wages rise
Median family income increases
Population grows
Net migration Improves
High school graduation levels rise
The number of residents with post-secondary degrees and certifications increase
The stories residents and others tell to describe economic opportunities in Jay County are positive.
The Grand Challenge
What common challenge are we addressing collectively?
Jay County has a home-grown learning system that cultivates the talent employers need and increases educational attainment.
Jay County coordinates talent with equitable economic opportunities to raise household income and earnings.
The Goals
What are our common goals?
Adult Workforce Training
An increasing number of residents achieve high value certifications in targeted workforce areas
Employment and Wages
Residents who upgrade their skills increase their household income
Future Talent Pipeline
Schools and community collaborate to provide mentoring programs and engaging learning opportunities that provide the skills and developmental assets children need to thrive
The Work
What are the catalytic projects?
Adult Workforce Training
John Jay Center for Learning offers courses based on needs of local employers
Employment and Wages
JJCL and Jay County Economic Development Corp. work to increase participation in JJCL job skills and outplacement programs
Future Talent Pipeline
4-H Youth Development Programs
Other out-of-school-time (OST) programs TBD
Career-embedded learning opportunities TBD by high school
The Metrics
What are the shared metrics we want to improve?
Adult Workforce Training
Enrollment in targeted workforce development skills courses
Number of certifications awarded in targeted areas
Employment and Wages
Wages and benefits earned after completion of JJCL job skills programs compared to prior wages and benefits
Future Talent Pipeline
No. of youth engaged in 4-H programs
No. and % of students engaged in other OST programs and jobs
No. and % of students who progress toward "industry standard" credentials in high school
The Outcomes
What community level difference is made?
Labor force levels improve
Workforce participation improves
Average wages rise
Median family income increases
Population grows
Net migration Improves
High school graduation levels rise
The number of residents with post-secondary degrees and certifications increase
The stories residents and others tell to describe economic opportunities in Jay County are positive.
