Innovations for Success: Skill Panels Mike Brennan Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board January 17 th, 2006 North West Food Processors EXPO Portland, OR

What do Industry Skill Panels do? Address the largest barrier to business expansion identified by Washington’s employers: the shortage of skilled workers Address the largest barrier to business expansion identified by Washington’s employers: the shortage of skilled workers How? How? o Assess current and future skill needs o Implement strategies to meet skill needs o Provide workers with better skills, jobs, career growth o Provide employers with more efficiency, less turnover, higher profits o Enable direct access to market information and needs

What industries have been served since 2001? Aerospace Aerospace Agriculture and Food Processing Agriculture and Food Processing Biotechnology Biotechnology Computer Game Software Computer Game Software Construction Construction Electronics Electronics Energy Energy Health Care Health Care Homeland Security Homeland Security Information Technology Information Technology Life Sciences Life Sciences Manufacturing – Advanced, Wood Product, and Rural Manufacturing – Advanced, Wood Product, and Rural Maritime Maritime Marine Technology and Services Marine Technology and Services Medical Devices Medical Devices Transportation Transportation

Washington has created 28 Industry Skill Panels since 2001 Can be convened by: oWorkforce Development Councils oChambers of Commerce oCommunity and Technical Colleges oApprenticeships oBusiness or Trade Associations oPrivate Career Schools oEconomic Development Councils

What does one look like?

Examples of Industry Skill Panel products Developed skill standards for the energy and electronics industries Developed skill standards for the energy and electronics industries Developed modular curricula for the manufacturing and biotechnology industries Developed modular curricula for the manufacturing and biotechnology industries Expanded apprenticeship in health care and construction industries Expanded apprenticeship in health care and construction industries Developed articulation agreements with mulitple levels of the education system Developed articulation agreements with mulitple levels of the education system Coordinated industry support to expand capacity of health care programs Coordinated industry support to expand capacity of health care programs Developed customized training for entry level workers and limited English speaking populations in agriculture, construction, manufacturing and health care industries Developed customized training for entry level workers and limited English speaking populations in agriculture, construction, manufacturing and health care industries

How have Industry Skill Panels increased collaboration? By giving companies an important leadership role in workforce development design By giving companies an important leadership role in workforce development design By enhancing the effectiveness of state investments ( Workforce, Economic Development and Education) By enhancing the effectiveness of state investments ( Workforce, Economic Development and Education) By leveraging existing resources and supporting the acquisition of new funding By leveraging existing resources and supporting the acquisition of new funding By finding innovative ways to streamline training and services By finding innovative ways to streamline training and services

Where do I go for more information? The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges: The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges: Workforce College: Workforce College: Your regional Workforce Development Council: Your regional Workforce Development Council: Your local Economic Development Councils: Your local Economic Development Councils: lications.doc lications.doc lications.doc lications.doc The Workforce Board Directory of services: The Workforce Board Directory of services:

Additional information….. Mike Brennan, Economic Development Workforce Specialist (360)