Envisioning the Future of Sector Strategies

Here is a bit of explanation for the upper left vision. Our group identified three main categories of stakeholders: 1) Government Organizations (workforce development / economic development / education / human services / other) 2) Individuals (workers / trainees) 3) Private Sector Organizations (employers / associations) A fourth element, Data, was identified as a key element, used by all organizations to assess past and current activity and determine future investments of funding and effort. The top row of “Y”s represents how each category of stakeholder is pointed in its own unique direction. Any overlap of effort or vision is coincidental. The bottom row of “Y”s represents how each category of stakeholder needs to be in alignment, with organizations targeting effort and investments in a coordinated fashion. The Data elements across categories (and within categories as well) must also be aligned, so that each stakeholder can understand the rationale behind data, and make better data-driven decisions. Theoretically, if all stakeholders bring their individual efforts into alignment, it becomes more likely that we can develop a “Skilled Workforce”. The crude graphic of a balance scale represents the ongoing tension between two the main categories of clients of this system: employers or workers. Some believe the primary mission of sector strategies is to serve the needs of employers, i.e., those who create the jobs; and those who believe the primary customer is the worker, i.e., those individuals willing and able to add value to the economy by actually doing the necessary work. Ideally, sector strategies provide for an overall balance in support for employers and workers. The green blocks under the balance scale represent the underlying foundation or footing on which the scale rests. This underlying footing must be level for the balance scale to work properly. Here again we have ongoing tension between allocating resources toward Existing Sectors, Industries and Occupations, and Emerging Sectors, Industries and Occupations. Those who work toward a skilled workforce must be mindful of striking a balance between keeping an eye on the present, and an eye on the future. This approach provides existing sectors the support necessary to stay competitive while also positioning the workforce to be ready for “jobs of the future”. MS-Word tells me this explanation is approximately 380 words, so I’m well short of the 1,000 word limit. Please let me know if even more written explanation is required and I (or another team member) will add some more.