Workforce development in Nevada is stalling as the skilled workforce pipeline faces challenges, business leaders told local and national politicians during a roundtable on Monday at the Latin Chamber of Commerce.
US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Governor Steve Sisolak asked for input on where government funding could improve development.
On his third visit to Las Vegas since joining the Labor Department and the Biden administration, Walsh said leaders need to be careful about harnessing the flow of federal stimulus and infrastructure funds and the potential trillions of additional dollars. when a “human infrastructure” disappears through Congress.
“We need to be really aware of the investments we make,” said Walsh. “We’re looking at some of the ways we’re investing in vocational training. I use the word invest because it is an investment in people. … expenses could be buying things. Investing, what we do here at Build Back Better is investing in people. We are investing in the American economy. “
Stakeholders said the challenge in human resource development lies in the recruitment and training of diverse skilled workers. Chris Vito, president of Nevada Adult Day Healthcare Centers, said he had identified an inconsistency in education and believed the education could keep employees on the same career path.
“The actual transfer of knowledge and training actually gives the employee new energy and motivates him to carry the torch,” says Vito.
Still others suggested that repairs to the pipeline could begin in middle and high school. Business leaders for years said teenagers expected good jobs to require an expensive college degree. Now many are unaware of the high paying jobs that are available in the craft with associate degrees or other less costly certificates.
“We haven’t explained well enough how good these jobs are. I went to high schools where you said, ‘Why don’t you look at the welder?’ and they say, ‘Well, I don’t want to make $ 12 an hour.’ Are you kidding me? ”Sisolak said, pointing out that some high paying jobs may not be perceived that way.
For some groups this has led to a creative search for talent.
Jo Cato, owner of marketing and public relations consultancy Periwinkle Group, said they would previously hire people with higher education. But the pandemic has led them to seek talent from commercial schools and apprenticeships to show that counseling does not require a college degree.
“The challenges we are facing right now are that our pipeline is dry,” said Cato.
McKenna Ross is a corps member of Report for America, a national utility that places journalists in local newsrooms. Contact them at mross@reviewjournal.com. Follow @mckenna_ross_ on Twitter.
