Page 6 - SKILLS Workforce Development Guide 2021

Welcome
SKILLS FWOR THE NEW AGE
elcome to this inaugural edition of SKILLS! As our tagline says, this supplement to 914INC. aims to cover what’s hot, what’s next, and what’s needed when it comes to workforce development in our region. When we started planning this issue, we were still uncertain about the trajectory of the pandemic and what state Westchester County — and the
world — would be in upon its release. I’m happy to say that we seem to be heading in the right direction, with business and life in Westchester getting closer to normal.
This is, of course, good news for our business community, which is eager to get back to growth mode. We have learned some very valuable lessons this past year or so, not the least of which is the crucial importance of our essential workers — many of whom do not sit at a desk with a framed college degree hanging in the background. While pursuing a four-year degree is the right choice for many, this pandemic showed that degree-less jobs in industries such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, construction, financial services, and energy are some of our most important.
In addition to being crucial to our economy’s (and society’s) well-being, these
fields provide a wealth of lucrative, meaningful, and growth-oriented employment opportunities for many area residents. The continued advancement of trades and essential industries in Westchester also aligns with the needs of our employers, who are desperately seeking skilled labor to fill the gaps in their workforces.
In this first issue of SKILLS, we shine the spotlight on the synergy between students, employers, and job seekers when it comes to local workforce development. We look at how companies are building their post-COVID workforce, hear from employers who have implemented innovative training and workforce development programs, examine the outlook for job seekers in several of our key industry sectors, explore options for students who seek prosperous careers that don’t require a four-year degree (and the debt that often comes with it!), and share local government, industry, and educational resources that will help employers and candidates connect.
I hope, as we move out of this pandemic, that this publication will serve to help promote the types of workforce and economic development programs that are critical to our recovery and can help give us the boost we need so we can all get back to life and business as usual in Westchester.
Amy R. Partridge
Editor
4 SKILLS What’s Hot. What’s Next. What’s Needed.