Workforce Development Conference     

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Education and workforce issues remain some of the most pressing challenges facing business and industry in our state.  A number of business leaders have deemed Tennessee students’ persistent skills gaps and workforce shortages to be a “crisis” that threatens our economic growth and competitiveness. 
 
Please make plans to join us for a unique conference where we will cover a host of timely and pressing workforce topics and engage with business, education, and community leaders to navigate a path forward and explore potential solutions that promise to remedy employers’ top concerns.
                                                                                                       
Leaders of business and industry, local chambers, workforce and economic development agencies, and Tennessee’s higher education community are all hard at work to constantly strengthen our state’s workforce preparedness and close skills gaps.  We hope you will come learn more about the work they are doing and share your thoughts and opinions on the future direction of education and workforce policies and best practices.
 
 Focus Areas: 
Career Preparedness – Students need to better understand career opportunities that lead them into career paths. How can businesses and local communities influence the awareness process, and how early should school counselors and support staff be discussing career and technical post-secondary options with students?  Are there any model local programs or partnerships currently in place in any of our state’s school districts, and what can we learn from them?
Apprenticeships – We hear a lot about them, but what is currently happening and how can businesses and communities facilitate them?  How can work-based learning experiences strengthen technical education offerings, and what policies can be put in place to help make them more relevant and appealing to students?  
Credentials and Certifications – There are a number of industry credentialing programs and courses available to students and workers at different points throughout their education careers.  What are they, how do they differ, and which ones are most relevant to the skill needs of Tennessee business and industry?
Policy Updates: What were some of the most important legislative developments around education and workforce policy from the General Assembly in 2017, and what can businesses expect next year?