Regional leaders rally again creating customized education to workforce pipeline strategies that are relevant to employer’s needs. The Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) has selected to highlight workforce as the topic for our Annual Meeting, (Re)Defining the Goal: The True Path to Career Readiness in the 21st Century.
Dr. Kevin Fleming, producer of the viral video “Success in the New Economy,” and author of the bestseller, “(Re)Defining the Goal” will discuss his 7:2:1 concept. The principle demonstrates the ratio of education levels required to support a sustainable and repeatable talent supply chain. The 7:2:1 ratio breaks down to represent for each job requiring a master’s degree or higher, two jobs require a four-year degree, and seven jobs require a 2-year degree, certificate, or training. These education levels can be represented within one company as well as in the global economy.
The region has started to create a relevant workforce that is skilled and differentiates our region from others in the nation. Recent research has shown the region leads the county in concentration of Cold Heading employment, has twice the state average of people employed in manufacturing, and more than 20,000 people employed as engineers due to our aerospace and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
As Nathan Bryant, president and CEO of the RAEDC states in a recent edition of Business Update, ”The Rockford Region strives to solve the talents supply chain issue by creating accredited, industry-specific, and customized pipelines through partnerships in education and industries.” Following the Annual Meeting Dr. Fleming will be working with the region’s educational and training organizations, and business community leaders to continue the collaboration.
Ensuring a qualified workforce cultivates opportunities for primary job growth that increase the economic well-being of our region and the people who live, work, and play here.
To learn more about the RAEDC’s Annual Meeting visit www.RockfordIL.com/721
This was also published in the November edition of the Rockford Chamber’s The Voice.
