Why Post-Secondary Programs Can Make or Break Your Workforce
09/13/2022
If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s flexibility. Our workplace needs have shifted, supply and demand have ebbed, flowed and even halted in some cases. Critically apparent across all industries is the knowledge that a strong workforce is the basis to a company’s and a community’s success. Post-secondary programs’ ability to adapt to changing workforce needs play a key role in success.
Post-secondary Program Flexibility
It’s important that post-secondary programs are nimble enough to adapt to rapidly changing needs and train workforce in the ways most beneficial to employers. When machinery changes or methods to produce evolve, it’s important to have a workforce that can adapt. Post-secondary programs can play a large role in readying a workforce for that very opportunity. One example of this is found within the Hopkinsville Community College Workforce Solutions and technical degree and credentialing programs. Work activities around machinery involve applying knowledge of positioning machines, adjusting machines, verifying accuracy of machines and troubleshooting when something goes wrong. The Hopkinsville Community College Manufacturing and Machining Technology program works with local industries in South Western Kentucky to evaluate their programming so that the students they’re teaching today are learning on the machinery found in local workplaces. And what about when the industry needs change? The Murray State University Hopkinsville Regional Campus saw a shift in the tourism market when a major tourism development expanded in South Western Kentucky. That economic development identified a need for a hospitality workforce pipeline; within months, the school began offering a hospitality degree to support the need.
The Pipeline Can’t Wait for Post-Secondary
High school athletes are often celebrated for athletic achievement. Signing days involving parents, coaches and educators are common events for the high school athlete heading to the next level. The HOPFAME program, another Hopkinsville Community College program, aims to celebrate and support those committing to the workforce. The HOPFAME program is open to all, but is a program specifically directed at recent high school graduates, current manufacturing employees, and military veterans. HOPFAME participants enter the workforce and begin earning a salary, all while attending college with the goal of entering the workforce debt-free. Participants attend class full-time two days a week to apply what they’re learning as they work with a manufacturer three days a week. Graduates of the 18 month program gain work experience and extensive knowledge in electricity, fluid power, mechanics, fabrication and robotics – along with personal skills to be a stand out employee. What this means for South Western Kentucky employers is they have a direct pipeline of highly qualified potential employees – 18 months after the participants leave high school, in many cases. With South Western Kentucky being home to the youngest population in Kentucky, this is a major win for employers looking for talent.
South Western Kentucky is also working hard to launch the career paths of the nearly 6,000 high school students that graduate across our region each year through the SWK IGNITE program. This effort connects students throughout the region with opportunities to learn more about manufacturing opportunities, the skills necessary to succeed in life and the workforce, tours of local industries and companies, and financial advising so that students who desire to graduate and directly enter the workforce can follow the manufacturing to military pathway as highlighted by Huhtamaki, a Hopkinsville based advanced manufacturer of eco-friendly containers and packaging for the restaurant industry.
Post-Secondary Affordability
One of the barriers to many when it comes to post-secondary education is accessibility and affordability. A study from Cengage Group found the top barrier to post-secondary education is the cost of living or cost of tuition & materials. The same study found nearly half of participants said free college would impact their decision to return to school or complete their degree. Why does this matter to employers? You need a trained & ready workforce. By removing barriers to attendance, it makes the availability of highly skilled workers possible. The Rotary Scholars Program is a community example of how this can work. All high school graduates in Christian County, Kentucky are eligible to receive two years of post-secondary tuition free of charge. Heralded as one of the most giving communities in Kentucky, the program is made possible by donations to the Hopkinsville Rotary Club. Key partnerships between corporations, non-profit and education organizations are necessary for community growth in today’s business climate.
Workforce readiness is a top priority in South Western Kentucky. Several programs not spotlighted are good models for successful workforce participation. Learn more about those by visiting https://southwesternky.com/regional-data/workforce/.