FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 5, 2015
CONTACT:
Paul Logan
703-403-6464
p.logan@vachamber.com
Virginia Chamber Foundation Encourages Employers to Help Identify Critical Skills Needs
RICHMOND – The Virginia Employment Commission, in partnership with the Virginia Chamber Foundation, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, the Council on Virginia’s Future, the Virginia Community College System and other statewide associations is encouraging employers in Virginia to complete a survey to identify fast growing industry sectors and workforce skills gaps. The employer survey and analysis are being conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University, Center for Urban and Regional Analysis and is facilitated by the Chamber Foundation’s Center for Education and Workforce.
The purpose of this effort is to better understand the workforce needs of employers in the Commonwealth. Specifically it will help to identify:
· Future hiring trends
· Anticipated job vacancies
· Degrees, licenses and industry-recognized credentials required for vacant positions
· Skills and training requirements for employers
The 2015 Virginia Workforce Development Employer Survey is engaging a broad cross section of Virginia businesses representing all sizes, industries and geographic regions to identify future jobs needs and challenges employers face in recruiting talent. Survey results will give business leaders and education and government officials valuable insight as they seek to address workforce needs.
“I encourage employers who receive the invitation to participate in this opportunity to help us paint a clearer picture of Virginia’s present and future workforce needs,” said Virginia Chamber President and CEO Barry DuVal. “The results of this study will be valuable for employers as well as future employees as they seek to develop skills they can apply in their careers. When the needs of employers and the skills of the workforce align, Virginia wins.”
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones said, “Building a New Virginia Economy means taking a comprehensive approach to workforce development, and that starts with understanding and addressing the needs of business. We must think about workforce development in terms of developing skills in our workforce that better enable firms to compete and win in a 21st century economy.”
ABOUT THE VIRGINIA CHAMBER FOUNDATION:
The mission of the Virginia Chamber Foundation is to strengthen Virginia’s long-term competitiveness through implementation support for Blueprint Virginia. The Foundation conducts research, provides metrics for the state’s progress and produces events on issues facing business.
ABOUT BLUEPRINT VIRGINIA:
Blueprint Virginia is a comprehensive initiative to provide business leadership, direction and long-range economic development planning for Virginia. For twelve months over 2012-2013, the Blueprint process engaged business and community leaders from around the state through grassroots involvement. Briefings were held in more than 30 communities where hundreds of Virginia citizens voted on priority issues for their region and the state. The Blueprint Virginia project collaborated with more than 300 organizations and over 7,000 participants to develop “A Business Plan for the Commonwealth” which provides elected officials and private sector leaders with a roadmap for economic competitiveness.
