Seasonal hiring begins soon

From day one as chamber CEO, I’ve struggled to understand the intricacies, complexities, and nuances of our region’s workforce development programs. I’ve met with the Chamber’s Talent Committee, talked to the leaders of training and development organizations, researched available grants and funding mechanisms, studied economic development reports, and combed through workforce data charts. I’ve talked with executives, hiring managers, students, job seekers, and parents.

My main conclusion: Workforce development is complex.

Complexity comes in part from the expansive number of training and education programs and services available to learners and workers. How do job-seekers know where to start when they want to explore an occupation, learn a skill, or gain a credential? How does their age, previous experience, and education level affect where they begin their career path? How do employers connect with these prospective workers to evaluate their skills and values? What skills do employers need in a new employee and what skills do they prefer to teach on the job? Are new-hire and employer expectations aligned when it comes to attendance, alertness, and aptitude? (That’s my kinder, gentler way of saying, “show up on-time, pass a drug test, and make an effort.”)
If the availability of skilled workers is the top barrier to business growth (spoiler alert: I had a sneak peek at the results of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s (GRCC) new quarterly business sentiment survey), how does our community up its game to further address the issue of workforce development?

GRCC’s Talent Committee is taking a first step toward answering that question by examining the current state of workforce development in our market.

“Before we can strategize on how to improve the process of connecting potential employers with skilled workers, we need to first understand the available programs and services that help a worker become skilled,” said Paula Carynski of OSF Healthcare and the chair of the GRCC Talent Committee.
Toward that end, the committee is undertaking the challenge of mapping the region’s workforce development programs and services.

“Our committee represents an excellent cross-section of employers, administrators, and educators, and we’re calling in a few other professionals to lend their expertise. When we’re done, we’ll be able to assess the current situation, look for strengths and weaknesses in the offering, and determine how to move forward in supporting our region’s workforce needs,” Carynski said.

While this mapping work gets underway, GRCC is kicking-off our 2025 events program with a panel discussion that will take a closer look at a workforce development initiative embedded in our region’s school districts.

The “Future Ready Workforce – Data, Collaboration, and Action” luncheon is Thursday, March 13. Our panel of four education and career-readiness experts comprises Chad Dougherty, Hononegah High School District 207; Bridget French, Rockford Public Schools District 205; Matthew Fry, Belvidere School District 100; and Jacob Hubert, Harlem High School District 122.

I’ve been learning more and more about the depth of these initiatives and the role businesses have played in defining the skill areas and providing hands-on experience for students. I’ve also learned about some of the barriers to success and specific actions employers can take to remove roadblocks.

The goal of this event is to help business leaders better understand the Illinois State Board of Education Career Pathways. By the end of the luncheon, participants will know how to get involved and directly contribute to and benefit from student success.

I’m proud of the steps GRCC is taking to better understand our business community’s challenges in hiring skilled workers. And I’m excited about our March education event. These are just a start. As long as availability of a skilled workforce remains a top barrier to growing our local economy, GRCC will lead, collaborate, and advocate for a solution.