1. Achieving Business Results through Literacy and Education: A local snapshot! Meg Poag, Executive Director PO Box 41567 Austin, Texas 78704 (512) 320-4505 www.willread.org mpoag@willread.org

2. Work-Based Education Employer Needs Assessment Focused on the following industries – Manufacturing – Professional and technical services – Retail trade, including grocery stores – Health care – Information technology 48 employers submitted responses

3. Responses regarding prospective workers…

4. Are you having difficulty filling jobs due to... Lack of English-language literacy skills: 56.7% Reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics in English Lack of soft skills: 50.0% Participating as a team member, teaching others, serving clients or customers, negotiation Lack of technical skills: 50.0% Using machines and/or computers to monitor or perform tasks Lack of basic education/literacy skills: 43.3% Reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics

5. Would it be useful to have pre-employment training? Yes (n = 32) No (n = 10)

6. Responses regarding incumbent workers…

7. What kinds of training would benefit your current employees? Soft skills: 73.7% Participating as a team member, teaching others, serving clients or customers, negotiation English-language literacy skills: 57.9% Reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics in English Technical skills: 52.6% Using machines and/or computers to monitor or perform tasks Basic literacy skills: 42.1% Reading, writing, speaking, listening and mathematics

8. Employer Need + Values

9. Which statements are true about your company? (Top 5 Responses) Employer Needs Good Communication Skills for front-line workers. Front-line workers are in key customer contact roles. Employer Values General training philosophy. Internal promotions in hiring practices. Tuition reimbursement program in place.

10. Common Ground: Opportunities to address employer needs.

11. To what extent would you be willing to invest in training? Offer classes during work hours: 76.0% Paying an organization to provide classes or training for employees: 60.0% Providing child care for classes: 4.0% Transportation to the classes: 8.0%

12. Consider the possibilities… Challenge: Consider ways you could collaborate to address the workforce education needs in Central Texas. – No matter how BIG or small!