Since the beginning of this decade, businesses throughout this region have complained that it is ever more difficult to hire and retain workers that fit the needs of companies to meet their production/service requirements. First it was prevalent in specialized industries such as medical, high tech and finance. Then it advanced into construction and hospitality. Lately, it is a complaint in almost all industries. The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and the Northern Nevada Development Authority hear from companies desiring to relocate within this area that our workforce is too thin and not well trained. As the decade proceeds, a well-qualified workforce (or the lack thereof) remains a dampening shadow over our economic growth.
Workforce problems are old news. They've been talked to death by many of us and yet the problem continues. Can we / are we doing anything about getting a solution or will we just keep complaining until some other problem arises to push the workforce needs aside? Nevadaworks, EDAWN and NNDA working together hired a specialist to research and understand the workforce issues and make recommendations for addressing needed solutions. Thus was born the concept of the Workforce Network.
The WFN is intended to be a clearinghouse of workforce-related information that will inform businesses of the myriad workforce related training programs available to companies throughout northern Nevada. We have learned that many business executives are not aware of the depth of training available from local school districts, private colleges, community colleges, the University of Nevada, Reno, for-profit agencies as well as state and federal programs such as those from Nevadaworks. The Workforce Network intends to put this data into an information toolbox and make it available at no cost to every organization with employee training needs.
An additional item in the toolbox is employee recruitment. As many business executives have learned, the United States is in the midst of a worker shortage that is projected to get much worse before it gets better. The greater Reno-Tahoe area suffers from not having enough younger working-age individuals trained to fill current and future job openings. Many of the potential workers now in our schools will desire to move to other parts of the country before deciding whether or not to settle here. Some will be lured away to regions that have a more attractive lifestyle that meets their current needs. And still others will desire employment in industries not well represented in our region.
To counter these events, the WFN decided to create a program that would tout the benefits of living here to the many non-residents who recreate here throughout the year. A first step was the launching of www.mynvdreamjob.com which gives a snapshot of area jobs, lifestyles and amenities. Two banners portraying this information were hung at the Reno-Tahoe Airport. They are designed to attract the most coveted younger workers to learn more about us and to give consideration to living here in addition to playing here.
The theme of the banners, "Better Sick Days," speaks positively to the younger workers including one individual on the Nevadaworks staff. Older managers and business owners have grumbled about the perceived message. Since the older manager is here already, it is important to attract the needed younger worker in a manner they find attractive. These individuals play here so let's encourage them to live here.
Another WFN idea is to coordinate information about jobs for the "trailing spouse" category. Most areas concentrate on specific recruiting needs and often overlook the fact that many individuals have well educated spouses who also desire good employment opportunities. Coordinating the dissemination of this information will make it easier for all companies to benefit.
The Workforce Network plans on offering coordination of out-of-area recruitment of workers. When a good idea is created, it benefits everyone to share the implementation broadly rather than narrowly. The ideas can be more successful if a greater number of organizations participate and the WFN would be the neutral facilitator.
Overall, the Workforce Network will keep searching for the latest and greatest ideas to expand and train our workforce. It will spread the word on how to attract some of the many retired individuals back into the workplace to help mentor and train the younger or first time employee while coordinating with all educational organizations on the ever changing needs of business.
As we continue through summer and into fall, we will be tracking Web site visit hits and talking with the companies listed on the Web site to get an idea on how well the airport banners are working. We will make changes and improvements as needed and will launch other toolbox items as often and as quickly as possible.
If you have ideas you would like addressed in the toolbox, contact us. This is a regional solution to meet a regional need and as we succeed, we will all benefit.
Tom Fitzgerald is chief executive officer of Nevadaworks. Contact him at (775) 284-1340 or tcf@nevadaworks.com.
