Many Berks County Employers are facing unprecedented workforce challenges including unusually employee high turnover and less than effective recruiting results despite significant compensation increases. As we begin 2023, there are literally thousands of unfilled job openings across many sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, construction and utilities, logistics and transportation, and agriculture/food production. The County Workforce Development Board approved a strategic plan to address these challenges.
One of the barriers identified in this strategic plan was the low level of English language skills, which has hindered efforts by local employers to meet their projected needs for skilled technology workers in the decade ahead. To better understand these challenges and opportunities, in late 2021 the WDB convened an Ad Hoc Task Force on Adult English Language Proficiency . Over much of 2022, this task force initiated a dialogue with adult members of the community, workforce training providers and employers to better understand the root causes of this complex challenge.
Join us as the Work Force Development Board presents their findings. Some local employers have already taken creative steps to address this challenge. What can we learn from them?
The presenters include:
- Dan Fogarty, Chief Operating Officer of the Berks County Workforce Development Board
- Dr. Anna Weitz, Task Force Co-chair
- Brenda Rosado, Manager of Diversity & Inclusion for East Penn Manufacturing
- Ryan Breisch, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks
You’re invited to attend a Berks Alliance Community Forum via Zoom on January 19th.
Use this link to register for the program: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqc-qvqzsuG9eC6P5rrFyMZh8bFRG4ODJ_ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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