Kentucky’s workforce training and development programs need better coordination, greater accountability and more employer involvement, according to a new report from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Achieving those and other goals detailed in the report’s recommendations will require a top-to-bottom review of the entire system – a review that chamber officials would like to see ordered by the next governor.
Kentucky’s Workforce Challenges: The Employer Perspective notes there is a lot of confusion about workforce programs at the local level, there is frustration in the business community about its role in local and regional workforce decisions, there is uncertainty about the return on investment of these workforce programs, and there is a maze of state and federal workforce programs that is difficult, if not impossible, for business people to navigate.
The report follows a year’s review of the state workforce system by a Chamber-organized group representing employers from different sectors and geographic regions.
The review began in response to the continuing frustrations voiced by employers about the challenges they encounter with Kentucky’s programs and their ability to find skilled workers for the jobs they have available. A recent poll of chamber members reflected those frustrations: Less than 10 percent of the respondents believe the overall workforce has good skills.
“Effective workforce training and service programs are critical to ensuring a successful future for countless businesses across Kentucky, the people they employ, and the state as a whole,” the report noted. “But more must be done if the state is to expand and sustain a highly skilled, globally competitive workforce.”
From Kentucky Chamber of Commerce