Concerned about the dearth of skilled workers, a coterie of major employers has banded together to see if their combined influence can move the dial on this key commodity.
The Business Champions Supporting Credential Completion includes such heavyweights as McDonald's, Aon Hewitt, Cigna and PepsiCo. Their stated goal: "to help more working adults obtain industry-recognized credentials and college degrees to fulfill job demands."
They'll have a tough row to hoe: one recent Manpower study cited by the group says 40 percent of skilled job openings remain unfilled because of a lack of qualified candidates. Companies dependent upon such talent are clearly missing out on much of the recovery's momentum as they scour resumes for the right people. And the situation will only become grimmer going forward.
Recommended For You
"Over the next decade, more than half of American jobs will require workers to have a college degree or other postsecondary credential," the newly minted organization said in a release. "College or vocational training is closely linked with higher incomes, increased consumer purchasing power and improved economic health."
PepsiCo said it's committed to developing talent both within and without the company.
"We see education and credentialing as a valuable component of career development at PepsiCo," said Erik Sossa, vice president, global benefits and wellness at Pepsico. "Talent sustainability and development is a key component of our Performance with Purpose mission."
McDonalds brings to the table internal information on talent development that it can share with other group members.
"More than ever before, businesses need to invest in ongoing education, training and career advancement support for employees," said Rob Lauber, chief learning officer at McDonald's Corp. "That's why McDonald's recently announced Archways to Opportunity, a strategy that includes resources and support, like tuition assistance and advising services, to help eligible employees working in McDonald's restaurants overcome the many barriers to pursuing educational goals."
The Business Champions said it will have two key partners in its venture: the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and The Aspen Institute Skills for America's Future, "organizations which share the goal of providing more workers in the United States with access to the education and training they need to succeed."
The group will receive funding from Lumina Foundation.
© Touchpoint Markets, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more inforrmation visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
