Workforce Preparation and Education

Approximately 70% of community members who were surveyed during our eight community meetings said Crawford County does NOT have enough trained workers with the skills needed to grow the economy.

Less than 10% of people in Crawford County have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Hence, we’re focusing on workforce preparation and education this week at the Vision.

Let’s take a closer look at participants’ comments from phase one:

-“Schools need to do a better job forecasting industry needs and preparing students for those jobs”
-“We’re losing good kids to jobs elsewhere”
-“The history of good jobs is gone, but we still have an entitlement mentality”
-“We need to tap into the regional technical colleges for more help”
-“We should expand mentoring (programs) to help with life skills”
-“We need to have a workforce that employers want to hire”
-“It’s hard to find a job here even with a good resume”

Key themes that were identified during the meetings are as follows:

Ease of public assistance, work ethic and soft skills, drug and alcohol use among employees, workforce preparation in schools, collaboration within the education system and with businesses, need for entrepreneurial growth, wages, agricultural sustainability, life skills training, “brain drain” and need for higher education rates.

An issue-specific meeting dedicated to workforce preparation and education will be held on August 16. If you are interested in actively participating in this meeting, call 419.563.1883 or email crawford2020@crawford-co.org for more information or to RSVP.

Those who do not wish to participate in the meeting can still get involved in the process by taking this short survey. Responses will be discussed during the issue-specific meeting to help begin crafting a plan for the betterment of Crawford County’s workforce and education system.