Page 10 - SeptOct2021Vol33No3

By Lisa Hood Skinner
PW TIPS: Obtaining, Training

New Public Works Professionals

How to hire and keep good people? job openings, leaving the remaining 57% career assessments can have a bias toward
It’s a topic of conversation everywhere… of job openings unfilled. Our region must steering students to careers of which they
from the board rooms to the lunch rooms, expand the size of its workforce to meet already have knowledge, YouScience assists
to business coalitions and government increasing job demand.” students’ exploration in careers in which
committees. Those sobering, and yes, alarming they may be naturally inclined, but have
Even at a recent TCAPWA branch statistics have prompted numerous efforts never considered.
meeting, informal talk turned from the across the state to fund various studies and Earlier this year in a retooled Career
upcoming Disc golf tournament, to initiatives addressing the worker shortage. Expo, the Knoxville Chamber partnered
the difficulties of running understaffed An example of a local strategy is seen in with Knox County Schools to use those
Public Works departments…with one the Knoxville Chamber’s recommendations results in guiding students to high-demand
municipality mentioning the need to raise in supporting, creating and maintaining industry clusters. The event represents just
its entry level salary to over $17 an hour. an available regional workforce. The one step in a continuum of activities to
Much has been written about the U.S. Chamber’s “Workforce Redefined: A Path help raise students’ awareness of careers to
worker shortage and how the post-COVID Prosperity Strategy,” outlines key points which they have never been exposed.
workforce climate has impacted many in the development of a qualified talent Plans are to expand these types of events
economic segments, including Public pipeline. as the world moves into a post-pandemic
Works. Workforce conditions in East The report says development of qualified environment, with an emphasis on career
Tennessee, as well as statewide, are no talent “needs to begin earlier, last longer, pathways within specific industry segments
exception, according to the “Economic and requires an innovative mindset with and the training required for those careers.
Conditions Outlook” (ECO) published in a deeper engagement of business and Work-Based Learning and Skilled Trades
late June 2021 by the Knoxville Chamber. industry and committed partnerships with Work-based learning often can
Its introductory section says “there is education providers.” Components of this be equated with internships and
definitely an argument to be made that strategy include: apprenticeships, especially in the skilled
there is a worker shortage,” in which “the • Adopting a holistic view of workforce trades. The Tennessee Department of
April labor force estimates only grew by development that is more responsive and Education defines work-based learning,
0.2% in the Knoxville MSA, 0.3% in Knox flexible, with better coordination and however, as having employers speak in
County, and 0.9% in Tennessee, while the sharing of information among service classrooms, offering tours of workplaces
national labor force slightly shrunk.” providers and creating practicum or project-based
Financed by First Horizon Bank, the • Empowering employers to participate in lessons aligned with an employer’s needs.
ECO cited possible factors affecting the regional workforce development efforts This strategy envisions a website that
shortage, including low wages, individuals to better meet the long-term needs of the matches local work-based options with
lacking particular skillsets, lack of regional business community willing employers and educators who
childcare, or a shortage of available workers • Preparing workforce-ready graduates are seeking these opportunities for their
altogether. Employment conditions may by supporting more career awareness, students. The chamber reports that while
be more easily understood later this exploration and training opportunities jobs “are going unfilled, particularly in
year after the State of Tennessee ends its • Creating more targeted accelerated skilled trades, the supply of willing high
participation in the four federal pandemic training opportunities that are responsive school interns, (trained in soft skills by
unemployment programs, in which to economic conditions organizations like Project Grad and Boys
unemployed workers across the nation • Supporting more equitable and accessible & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley)
may receive an extra $300 as a weekly education, training and employment outstrips demand. These prospective
supplement. opportunities, and interns are a valuable tool that employers

Demand for Workers Outpacing Supply • Championing top-tier reading and math can embrace to grow their own workforce.”
skills for public education students as
The ECO states that “April’s estimated A website where employers, organizations
number of unemployed people in the measured by nationally-recognized and students can find each other (and the
Knoxville MSA is 16,001 and in Knox standards. tools they both need to have successful
County is 8,493. There are 37,465 job You Can’t Be What You Can’t See internships) is yet another tactic to be
openings in the Knoxville MSA and 23,485 An interesting program cited is the Knox addressed within this strategy.
of those job openings are in Knox County.” County Schools’ investment in YouScience, The chamber’s recommendation is
If all the current unemployed workers in a career attitude and aptitude test, which to prepare workforce-ready graduates
the Knoxville MSA were hired today, “they strives to give students a wider view of by supporting more career awareness,
would only be able to fill 43% of the total career options to pursue. While traditional exploration and training opportunities,

10 TPW September/October 2021