Challenge

Like many counties across Washington State, Pierce County continues to face the challenge of developing a sufficient number of residents with the necessary skills and qualifications to meet the demand of businesses. As Baby Boomers begin their historic exit, profound economic consequences exist. 43% of the U.S. civilian labor force is eligible to retire in the next decade, leaving huge talent gaps across all industries.

Shortage

In addition, the long-term labor/talent shortage continues to be a threat to the health of our economy. It is projected that the U.S. will experience a 6.2 million person shortage by 2008 and 40 million by 2015. The collision of these forces requires targeted investments that yield systemic change.

This skills shortage creates an opportunity to target and engage our youth. According to a report by Center for Law and Social Policy, more than 5 million youth, 15% of the nation ’s youth population, between the ages of 16 and 24 are out of school and out of work.

Transition

In addition, many young adults who are in school are at risk of dropping out. This indicates that a considerable portion of the country ’s emerging workforce may face significant difficulty making the transition to productive adulthood and further exacerbates the current and projected labor/skills shortage experienced by industries.

Partnership

The Tacoma-Pierce County Workforce Development Council and its Healthcare and Construction Partnerships are jointly launching and supporting the Pierce County Youth Workforce Development Initiative in collaboration with workforce development system stakeholders. The Initiative encompasses two parts:

Part One:
Cross industry awareness campaign to K-12 stakeholders which will result in:

• Increased awareness of growing industries, high demand careers, and training options

• Increased number of programs that expose, prepare and link young adults to high demand careers in high growth industries

• Increased number of youth accessing industry specific and industry supported training while in secondary education

• Linkage of young adults to high demand career training and or employment immediately upon graduation from high school

Part Two:
In Demand Scholarship Program which will result in:

Increased financial support in the form of scholarships to young adults pursuing post-secondary education/training and/or employment in high demand careers – including apprenticeship training, on-the-job training, community and technical colleges and university levels. This Initiative provides a venue by which community members can collaborate to address the need to prepare and fully engage our future workforce to ensure that our economy and community remains healthy and viable.