WORKFORCE READINESS TAKES CENTER STAGE!
This month the Workforce Readiness Committee is taking center stage! The newly-created AHRMA Committee led by VP, Kate McLagan, has been researching and conducting due diligence for several months in its efforts to determine the most appropriate initiatives for 2009 based on its mission to create partnerships and programs to bridge workforce readiness gaps.
So what is “workforce readiness” – a SHRM working definition is as follows:
- Insure that today and tomorrow’s workforce has the skills, competencies, and behaviors in order to succeed in today and tomorrow’s workplace.
- Insure that today and tomorrow’s workplace maximizes the potential of today and tomorrow’s workforce.
Workplace readiness pertains to:
- New Entrants to the Workforce
- Incumbent Workers
- Transitioning Workers
- Re-entrants to the Workforce
One of the Committee’s goals was to create programs to assist HR professionals in transition. This goal has been accomplished with the addition of the Job Search Tool Kit located on the AHRMA website at “Member Resources.” The Tool Kit is designed to help job seekers in different areas of their job search through interactive e-learning modules. To learn more, read “AHRMA Announces New Resource for Job Seekers.”
The second goal of the Committee is to research and identify stakeholders in the community and develop partnerships. Through the efforts of the Committee during the past few months, the Committee members have developed relationships with several Central Texas groups and have coordinated a panel discussion for this month’s AHRMA morning presentation on June 25th at the Austin Country Club entitled, “Workforce Readiness – Our Future,” that includes panel members from Workforce Solutions, Capital Area Workforce Board, Texas Business & Education Coalition, Austin HR Management Association, and Williamson County HR Management Association who will present their views on what is happening and what action they are taking regarding Workforce Readiness in the Austin and Central Texas area.
The highlight of this month’s June meeting is the luncheon presentation entitled, “Losing Ground, Losing Opportunity”: The State of Education in Central Texas, How it Ties to Our Economic Future, and What AHRMA Can Do About It…,” presented by Susan Dawson, President and Executive Director of the E3 Alliance: Education Equals Economics. Ms. Dawson is a much recognized education and workforce leader in our region. Former Chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, she created the E3 Alliance to bring the lessons and strengths of business to systemic change in our education systems. Another “not to miss” presentation! You can read more about the E3 Alliance at www.e3alliance.org and the luncheon presentation in a separate blog article.
Over the next several months, AHRMA will be partnering with the E3 Alliance and other local organizations to take on potential initiatives such as the following to make a difference in the Greater Austin community:
- Substantive internships
- Write/build “professional skill set” based on employers (HR members of AHRMA) survey: wants/needs
- Integrate teaching and learning for students and teachers – experiential learning externship program – professional development
- Employers on high school sites during lunch hours
- Systemic and policy changes (HR to influence those stakeholders)
- Help create “career-based” schools
- Volunteer to be a coach and/or mentor
- Join the Speaker’s Bureau
- Join a school’s Career & Tech Ed Council
- AND MUCH, MUCH MORE…
Sincere thanks and appreciation to Kate McLagan and the members of the Workforce Readiness Committee for all the work they have done to set the stage for the work to come. You are making a difference and will continue to do so. Thank you for supporting the theme of this year’s Board – “The Gift of Giving: to the membership, the profession, and the community.”
I extend a “Call to Action” for members of AHRMA to get involved with your Workforce Readiness Committee and learn about volunteer opportunities for you and/or your company. As HR Professionals, you are all stakeholders in workforce readiness which will impact the future of everyone in the State of Texas. You all can make a difference! For more particulars, contact Kate McLagan at vpworkforcereadiness@austinhumanresource.org.
Ramona Rohrer
2009 AHRMA President
president@austinhumanresource.org
Filed under: From the President's Podium
