Start The Conversation Here

Northampton Community College: Committed to Workforce Development and High Priority Occupation Training Now More than Ever

October 21, 2020

Community colleges are often at the forefront of creating new training options based on trends in local business and industry need. Agility is key. For decades, Northampton Community College has delivered non-credit training programs in Corporate and Public Safety, Healthcare, Manufacturing and Industrial Skills, Hospitality, Computer Skills and Office Administration. We recognize the importance of creating training that meets the needs of our local employers and businesses in the many high priority occupations in our geography.

CCA: Preparing Students for the Jobs of Tomorrow – How School Should Work

October 14, 2020

Commonwealth Charter Academy is a top accredited public cyber charter school that provides personalized educational programs and services to more than 16,000 students in grades K-12 across Pennsylvania at no cost to families.

The Challenge Program, Inc. Raising Student Awareness of Job Training Programs

October 07, 2020

The Challenge Program, Inc. was founded in 2003 by Daniel Perkins. Our mission is to build sustainable business and education partnerships while motivating students to develop the good habits required to succeed in school and in their future careers. Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 are challenged in TCP’s five incentivized categories that are linked to successful career habits – Attendance, STEM, Community Service, Academic Improvement and Academic Excellence.

Montgomery County Community College Creates Solutions for Workforce Needs

September 30, 2020

Montgomery County Community College has been a partner with business and industry since the College was founded in 1964. Our mission is centered on our commitment to being a community hub for learning skills and achieving credentials that promote prosperity and quality of life. Collaborating with regional employers is key to serving the workforce needs of the county and region.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania Prepares Teens for Jobs of the Future

September 23, 2020

For the past 130 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania has built a rich legacy of being one of the most comprehensive youth services providers in both Allegheny and Somerset counties by living out our mission to activate and advance the potential in every child by doing whatever it takes to ensure they have GREAT FUTURES.

Community College of Allegheny County -- The Gateway to Regional Employment Opportunities

September 16, 2020

Workforce development and training aligned with 21^st century demands is essential to enhancing the economic growth of the Greater Pittsburgh region. Over the past few years, as our aging workforce has started to retire, there has been a noticeable void of qualified individuals to fill the gaps. With certificate programs, continuing education credits and training programs quickly becoming the industry standard for education, the Community College of Allegheny County has positioned itself as the gateway to regional employment opportunities.

Addressing the Talent Pipeline – How Penn College is Revolutionizing Apprenticeship Training to Close the Skills Gap

September 09, 2020

In manufacturing and other applied technology sectors, a shortage of skilled workers has been a vexing and ongoing challenge for many years. Too few students pursue manufacturing-related career pathways, too few parents know enough about modern manufacturing and the associated opportunities to encourage that pursuit, and the existing workforce is short on the required skills to fill the needs of employers. Add the retirement of 10,000 baby boomers per day to the mix, and you have a perfect storm of skilled labor disconnect.

Reading Area Community College is Preparing the Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Now

September 02, 2020

A frontrunner in Industry 4.0 training, the Schmidt Training and Technology Center, a dedicated facility at Reading Area Community College for advanced manufacturing technology in Reading, PA, is ready to position operators and technicians to be solely efficient and effective - no outsourcing.

NuPaths: A Partner in Building Your IT workforce

August 26, 2020

Information technology has become an integral part of every business, and employers need a workforce that is proficient in technology. Over the years, the need for technology skills has grown beyond just the IT department. Due to this high demand, many employers no longer require a four year degree for technology roles that can be filled by candidates who have the specific skills and certifications to perform the job.

Junior Achievement of Western PA Creatively Connects Students with Employers

August 19, 2020

Junior Achievement’s K-12 career education programs provide exciting, eye-opening realizations about how our economy works, how to find and keep a job and the role that business plays in our lives. For more than 80 years, JA has responded to various challenges in the workforce by creating local programs to meet the needs of our business community.

PA Chamber Educational Foundation Announces 2020 Work Ethic Scholarship Winners

August 12, 2020

The Pennsylvania Chamber Educational Foundation is proud to announce that 18 Commonwealth students have been awarded a total of $108,000 in mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarships. The selected students are attending technical schools located within the Commonwealth to pursue careers in the skilled trades. As part of its ongoing commitment to address the Commonwealth’s job skills gap, the PA Chamber Educational Foundation has teamed up with the mikeroweWORKS Foundation for the past four years.

Berks Connections/Pretrial Services Offer Successful Program to Help Reentrants Obtain Employment in the Construction Trades

August 12, 2020

Berks Connections/Pretrial Services has been in the Life Improvement Business serving the criminal justice population in Berks County for close to 45 years. A lack of job training and opportunities for stable employment at a living wage present significant barriers to our clients’ reentry success. Lack of employment is not only a quality of life issue, but can also have serious implications on an individual’s likelihood to recidivate.

Flagger Force: Partnerships to Grow a Skilled Workforce

February 14, 2020

Mandatory infrastructure upgrades are forcing contractors and utilities to rapidly increase work capacity. However, this is completely dependent upon companies having the trained staff available to tackle a growing list of projects. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Pennsylvania alone needs to add about 137,000 construction workers by 2021 in order to keep up with demand. Not only does this require hiring new employees, but also retaining and developing them to keep pace with the needs of the nation’s infrastructure.

Light a Spark

February 11, 2020

STEM careers continue to grow with 75% of the fast-growing occupations over the next 10 years requiring significant preparation in math and science. With women making up less than 25% of the STEM workforce, we must help young girls, especially those possibly suppressing their interest in STEM classes, see themselves in those jobs

Pennsylvania’s Work Ethic Scholarship Recipients Preparing to Take On Careers in the Skilled Trades

November 19, 2019

Workforce development and addressing the Commonwealth’s jobs skills gap continue to be a major focus for the business community. As a cornerstone of the PA Chamber’s mission, our organization – through our Start the Conversation Here initiative – has been working to bridge the gap between Pennsylvania employers’ current and future employment needs and the skills of today’s workforce. Pennsylvania’s diverse employment needs across a wide range of industries provide ample job opportunities. However, the state continues to have people without jobs and job opportunities without the people with the skills to fill them. Despite the good paying, in-demand careers that the skilled trades provide, they still tend to get overlooked by students and their families.

What’s WORKING at Pennsylvania College of Technology?

October 10, 2019

Tucked away in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania College of Technology is building a career-ready workforce. As a special mission affiliate of Penn State, Penn College has advanced to become a nationally ranked, premier technical institution where a Penn College degree—combining a comprehensive education with hands-on experience using advanced technologies—is a considerable advantage in the world of work. With a history of innovation and flexibility to meet emerging, real-world needs, the institution is positioned to attain even greater levels of success.

Job’s for America’s Graduates

May 22, 2019 | LB

Our recent All Business podcast takes us back to school where we are talking to Dr. Ruth Patterson at Olney Charter High School in Philadelphia about their JAG program—Job’s for America’s Graduates. Listen in and learn how this program is teaching students employability skills and increases their workforce opportunities, all while reducing poverty and unemployment.

How Military Veteran Partners is Generating More Veteran Employment Opportunities

April 29, 2019

Around 60 percent of veteran-owned businesses have experienced at least one financial shortfall, according to a recent report on veteran entrepreneurs. Beyond that, 75 percent of veteran entrepreneurs who were surveyed said that a lack of social capital — networks, mentors and other experts — was their biggest challenge to starting and growing their business.

The Challenge Program Inc.: Meeting Workforce and Education Needs in Allegheny County

February 13, 2019

Since 2010, national and regional studies have been ringing the bell about a shortage of skilled and qualified employees coming our way. The future is now here.

In Centre County, business and education are joining forces to resolve to address local workforce needs

January 10, 2019

With the goal of building a better local and regional workforce, the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County and the county’s educational leaders have joined forces to begin addressing the workforce needs of employers across industry sectors.

An inside look at Forbes Magazine No. 1 Trade School: Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

November 19, 2018

Interview with PIA President CEO Suzanne Markel:
Congratulations on landing the Number One spot in Forbes’s “Top Trade School” List! What is the energy level at the school — and with your students — after receiving this honor?

Workforce Spotlight

Northampton Community College: Committed to Workforce Development and High Priority Occupation Training Now More than Ever

CCA: Preparing Students for the Jobs of Tomorrow – How School Should Work

The Challenge Program, Inc. Raising Student Awareness of Job Training Programs

Montgomery County Community College Creates Solutions for Workforce Needs

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania Prepares Teens for Jobs of the Future

Community College of Allegheny County -- The Gateway to Regional Employment Opportunities

Addressing the Talent Pipeline – How Penn College is Revolutionizing Apprenticeship Training to Close the Skills Gap

Reading Area Community College is Preparing the Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Now

NuPaths: A Partner in Building Your IT workforce

Junior Achievement of Western PA Creatively Connects Students with Employers

PA Chamber Educational Foundation Announces 2020 Work Ethic Scholarship Winners

Berks Connections/Pretrial Services Offer Successful Program to Help Reentrants Obtain Employment in the Construction Trades

Flagger Force: Partnerships to Grow a Skilled Workforce

Light a Spark

Pennsylvania’s Work Ethic Scholarship Recipients Preparing to Take On Careers in the Skilled Trades

What’s WORKING at Pennsylvania College of Technology?

Job’s for America’s Graduates

How Military Veteran Partners is Generating More Veteran Employment Opportunities

The Challenge Program Inc.: Meeting Workforce and Education Needs in Allegheny County

In Centre County, business and education are joining forces to resolve to address local workforce needs

An inside look at Forbes Magazine No. 1 Trade School: Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics