Talent Crunch Blog

CAEL has been working with Philadelphia Works to develop a prior learning assessment (PLA) strategy with partner the Community College of Philadelphia. PLA, which encourages student completion toward a degree or credential by granting credit for demonstrated college-level knowledge or skills, can be an effective tool for upskilling a workforce. CAEL recently spoke with Sue Hoffman, Senior Associate of Innovation at Philadelphia Works, to learn more about how this project will help Philadelphia’s workforce. 

A new report offers insight into the rapidly evolving employee expectations of how a career should be defined and what it should offer. The eye-opening insights can inform a deeper conversation on how employers can foster a workplace environment that encourages employee satisfaction and engagement–a conversation CAEL has been leading with the career pathing solution PathSavvy and advising resource CareerSavvy. 

With the theme “Going Global,” the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) held its 2017 gathering in Toronto. As we consider how economic development trends impact any given local or regional workforce, globalization is an idea that sparks fears of offshoring, downward pressure on wages and changes to labor markets that can leave many unconnected to that global economy and the prosperity that it makes available to some.

As communities work to differentiate themselves in a competitive global economy, alignment between economic and workforce development is essential. Successful communities, urban or rural, large or small, are proactively building this workforce alignment through a coordinated, systematic approach that helps to drive economic growth.

According to a report by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, there will be two million manufacturing jobs that will have to be filled over the next decade, contrary to incorrect assumptions that manufacturing is dead. Owing to the looming skills gap between workplace needs and the existing available talent, the report suggests that an average U.S. manufacturer could stand to lose an average of $14,000 per open position that remains unfilled.

If you were to ask 100 organizational leaders about what stands in their way of implementing a new talent management strategy like career pathing, you might get 100 unique answers. But as diverse as the responses you receive may be, most of them can be summed up with one area of concern: Uncertainty about sufficient cultural support within the organization to ensure success of the new strategy.

As communities work to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive global economy, the need for alignment between economic and workforce development has never been more important. Today, successful communities of all sizes, urban and rural, are building this workforce alignment proactively and through a coordinated, systematic approach that helps to drive economic growth.

USA Today reports that Google.org—Google’s philanthropic arm—has pledged $50 million to better prepare workers to handle the demands of today’s rapidly evolving job market.

There’s no question that obtaining a college degree or credential is generally an effective way to increase earning potential. As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted in an April 2017 survey, the median usual weekly earnings for a full-time employee with a bachelor’s degree is $464 more than that of someone with only a high school diploma. (~$2,210/mo or ~$24,218/yr) The unemployment rate of those with a bachelor’s degree is also only 2.5 percent, far less than the 5.2 percent of those with just a high school education.

Last week, the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee released its draft (PDF) of the FY 2018 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations bill. The bill, the National Skills Coalition notes, contains significant funding cuts that could have a significant impact on workforce development programs.