Employment challenges discussed at WV Chamber Foundation luncheon
November 21, 2024
Millwood, W.Va. – In 2024, the West Virginia Chamber Foundation launched a “Workforce Unifiers” program whose mission is to connect youth, higher education, employers, and state government officials.
On November 19, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the West Virginia Chamber Foundation hosted a Workforce Unifiers Luncheon at Star Plastics in Millwood.
Local business, education and agency leaders were invited to share the challenges and barriers that West Virginia and Jackson County face in filling job positions.
Led by Elizabeth House of the Chamber Foundation, other presenters were Andrea Garrett of the Chamber Foundation, Steve Roberts, President of the State Chamber of Commerce, and Brian Dayton, State Chamber Vice President of Policy and Advocacy.
The open discussion identified several issues local businesses encounter when seeking qualified employees.
Erik McCullough, owner of Mighty Shine Express Car Wash, which has locations in multiple counties, said that one challenge is a lack of readiness.
“Many times, we have to train in very basic areas that you might expect them to know already,” he said. “Once a worker is trained, it’s difficult to keep them because they move on to another job. I realize some programs offer workforce readiness on a certain level, but having businesses in several counties makes it hard to find and coordinate with those agencies.”
House said this issue was also a significant point brought out in the Foundation’s first luncheon discussion.
“The consensus is that our youth are woefully unprepared for the workforce,” she said.
Other barriers identified in the discussion were transportation, childcare, state regulations, the effect of the opioid and drug crisis, and loss of funding for training programs.
Michele Wilson, West Virginia University Parkersburg Dean of Workforce and Economic Development, said the partnership of business and education is imperative.
“That’s where we see the greatest effect,” she said. “One example is our successful collaboration with Constellium in our Skilled Trades Scholarship Program.”
One program initiated by the Chamber Foundation is Jobs for West Virginia Graduates, whose goal is drop-out prevention and a productive school-to-work transition for students overcoming barriers.
Morgan Perrine, the specialist based at Ripley High School, said students in the program must meet at least six barriers to qualify.
“These can include low-income, no caring adult, credit deficiency, absenteeism and other chronic issues,” she said. “Each student receives an individual development plan, and we stay in contact with them after graduation. We want to see if they’ve continued their education or entered the workforce. We want to make sure they transition well.”
Other programs were detailed during the luncheon, including Jackson County Schools’ “Discover Your Future,” which introduces middle school students to 16 career clusters.
“Students are encouraged to identify possible careers they might want to focus their education on in high school,” Director of Secondary Education Jeff Haskins explained.
The group’s consensus was that the earlier careers and opportunities were introduced, the better for the students and future employers.
Stark statistics were shared at the luncheon.
West Virginia’s workforce participation rate is the lowest in the nation, and the state is experiencing the fastest population decline. Currently, 60,000 jobs are unfilled.
The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and its Foundation will offer these luncheons in other areas of the state to formulate ideas and possible solutions to what is almost an economic crisis.
Story by Suzette Lowe, Jackson Newspapers