Posted on February 25, 2021 by Heather Adams

Community Forum: A Skills Based Approach to Job Training & Occupational Mobility

By The Berks Alliance

Community Forum: A Skills Based Approach to Job Training & Occupational Mobility

As our country responds to the dual heath and economic crises, displaced workers will confront a central question: Will they be able to return to their previous jobs of will they need to transition into new lines of work?

Research by the Federal Reserve Banks in Philadelphia and Cleveland have found that defining occupations by the skills required to do them could significantly expand opportunities for employment and economic mobility.

Based on an analysis of tens of millions of online job advertisements in the 33 largest metropolitan areas, this report finds a high degree of similarity between the skills employers are seeking when they are filling lower-wage jobs and the skills demanded for opportunity occupations, or occupations that do not typically require a bachelor’s degree and that pay above the national annual median wage. This research identifies pathways for displaced workers employed in the hardest-hit occupations in the Philadelphia metro area to translate their existing skills into higher-paying occupations, some of which are more resilient to the pandemic. The research finds that a transition to a better-paying occupation requiring similar skills is available to half (50 percent) of workers employed in severely declining occupations not requiring a bachelor’s degree.

In turn, the research has led to the creation of an innovative program involving a small group of community colleges to create new pathways for employment designed to connect low-wage workers with opportunity occupations.  The Community College Growth Engine Fund is designed to encourage community college leaders to support to deliver skills-focused, market-driven education as regions struggle to mitigate the growing skills gap.

Kyle DeMaria, a community development research associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, will present these findings.  He will be joined by a panel of local business leaders.

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.

When: Mar 18, 2021 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYufu6vqT4vGtDo_vZvoaT6eKQ7O0rsECtr

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please plan to join us for these other upcoming events:

You Might Also Like

Community Testimonials

Wish my town had a channel like this, very cool idea to bring the community together and give people a platform.

James

I wanted to thank you again for the opportunity you have created for our kids.  This experience is more than the TV show.  Eight students who probably never would have talked to each other were excited to execute a plan. Know that you make a difference.

Kristi

Thanks for your commitment to communication far and wide, for your technical support, and tireless efforts to bring fresh programs to BCTV. Bravo!

Liz

Thank you for always being receptive to my ideas. All of your efforts help me to help others and that is a blessing to me.

Adrean

Fantastic work and thanks so much for the quick turnaround!  Always a pleasure to work with you and the rest of the BCTV team!

Jim

Thank you and your staff for all you do to accommodate so many different shows, personalities, etc.!  Can’t be easy, but we really do appreciate it.

Martha

I am happy and proud to be a part of such a dedicated assembly of talent and purpose. Thank you for being a part of my efforts to promote theater and the arts in this region.

David