Page 3 - JobReady: January 2018

Director’s Update

s the Arkansas Department Additionally, two in three parents feel
of Career Education that a career requiring a skilled trade
A(ARCareerEd) continues its is not for their child, and fewer and
focus on workforce education and fewer children are considering these Charisse Childers, Ph.D.
training in the new year, it is important career paths as a respectable option.
that we revisit the guiding principles Today, the skills gap accounts
Governor Hutchinson established for for 600,000 high-wage-earning jobs
training Arkansas's workforce. left unfilled across the U.S., tens of
Regionally, business and thousands of those jobs here in our growth when business and industry
industry should guide job skill training state. These jobs are increasingly are actively involved in informing and
programs; Partnerships with two- requiring some form of postsecondary educating youth and adults about
year colleges, technical schools, and education and, according to research the skills and education needed for
high schools are needed; Funding from the Georgetown Center on current and future jobs. Teachers
for workforce training "has to follow" Education and the Workforce, by can teach, and students can receive
business and industry; and State 2020, approximately 58 percent of jobs training in skills that are currently in
government agencies should be in Arkansas will require education or demand and are consistent with the
organized around these principles. training beyond high school resulting priorities of their respective economic
The Career Education and in a certificate or above. development region. Most importantly,
Workforce Development Board of Through the work of Governor this active involvement increases the
ARCareerEd further reinforced these Hutchinson, the legislature and the likelihood of the student preparing for
principles when they adopted the new workforce agencies in Arkansas, the and getting a job that is in demand and
mission and vision for the agency, Department of Career Education is pays well in that region and across the
along with a demand-driven, results- building a comprehensive statewide state of Arkansas.
focused strategic plan to accomplish system with multiple career paths Our goal is that when a youth or
this mission and vision. and job skills training geared toward adult completes any of our programs,
As our economy in Arkansas and employment. We must all work he or she can be assured that there
in the U.S. continues to grow and together to bring awareness to the job are employers in need of someone
expand at a record-breaking pace, opportunities in Arkansas and provide with those skills. We can achieve
education and workforce leaders are the information and skills needed to this when business and industry work
even more focused on the quality and prepare for these jobs. with schools and training providers to
availability of labor. In Arkansas today, As I search for the "silver bullet" ensure that the education and training
49 percent of skilled-trade workers are or the "missing link," I always end that is being provided will lead to
45 and older, and nearly 18 percent up focusing on one critical element employment. Industry coordinated,
are between the ages of 55 and 64. - Business and Industry. As you demand-driven programs and
Compare that to the national statistics, have heard many times, "education industry-recognized certifications will
and Arkansas finds itself in the and business go hand in hand." Our better prepare our youth and adults for
majority, with more than half of U.S. cities, counties, regions and the state employment.
states in the same or worse shape. are better positioned for economic

Program Spotlight: Field Services

he mission of Arkansas job-training, supported employment, services can qualify. We have 20
Rehabilitation Services (ARS) job placement/business engagement, field offices, featuring a One-Stop
Tis to provide opportunities for and independent living services. In office, covering all 75 counties. Please
individuals with disabilities to work addition, Field Services provides contact the office nearest you to set up
and lead productive and independent services for the deaf and hard of an appointment.
lives. Field services, the main program hearing and a program for small Call 800-330-0632 or visit http://
within ARS, assists with career and business assistance. www.ARCareerEd.org/services/
technical education, various training Anyone who is a legal Arkansas arkansas-rehabilitation-services/field-
programs, transition services, on-the- resident and determined eligible for services/ars-field-offices to locate the
field office nearest you.

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