Strategic Priority 3 | Workforce Development

Workforce Development provides a vital link between employers, employees and the continuing education communities to expedite information flows and planning in the local job market.

These initiatives are the catalyst for action, the clearinghouse for information, and the home for collaboration relative to creating and maintaining a competitive advantage in workforce development.

Since the program started, more than 5,000 people have benefited from the Workforce Services Directory, over 1,000 students took advantage of the College-to-Career Fair and relocations have been made easier for trailing spouses with NEXT, a unique employment networking program.

Goal

• Fill the need for a trained and available workforce for existing and new companies to meet their competitive needs.

Programs

• Develop a regional workforce pipeline mapping report and strategy to better balance supply and demand, helping workers advance and businesses find qualified workers. Implement a “recruit for talent” initiative targeting professionals outside of the region who have Richmond roots to consider the opportunities in the local marketplace.

• Produce media and support materials to help attract talent to the region. Obtain new labor market analysis software and database to better match the region’s jobs, workforce, training, education and skills.

• Stage regional College-to-Career Fairs, building on the success of the 2008 inaugural event, involving the region’s two- and four-year colleges and universities to match interns, graduating seniors and recent graduates with area employers and jobs.

• Develop and maintain a web-based tool to leverage the Workforce Services Directory’s printed and electronic version with the tools, materials and contact information of more than 900 area service providers.

• Expand the Networking for Executives in Transition (NEXT) trailing spouse program and adapt to include Fort Lee and other Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) installations.

• Promote the achievements of local businesses that make a practice of building a world-class workforce by recognizing ‘best practices’ in workplace flexibility, recruiting, retention and development.