In a report by the National Commission on Adult Literacy, 90 million adults lack the literacy skills needed to complete postsecondary education and training. The lack of these skills, coupled with the current recession, creates a grim outlook for economic and workforce development in California and throughout the United States.
How are businesses expected to fill the 50 million new jobs predicted by 2018 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) when workers lack the basic credentials to fill them? To ensure workers have the skills needed to fill these positions and get the economy back on track, the Workplace Learning Resource Centers (WpLRC), along with business and industry, community colleges and other EWD initiatives are working together to create training programs that address these needs.
"We work closely with industry to understand and address the challenges businesses face in hiring qualified workers and to support employee professional development," said WpLRC Statewide Director Bruce Whistler. "This includes addressing the literacy and basic skills gap as well as creating programs that are relevant to the 21st century business."
The WpLRC provides customized training programs and offers a series of Foundation Programs focused on today's most relevant business topics. These programs including Generational Diversity with an emphasis on improving communication and managing conflicts between generations; the Next Skills Institute that addresses workplace skills such as listening, technology, communication and teamwork; and the Leadership Academy designed for individuals wanting to learn the skills needed to become strong, responsible, and solutions-driven leaders.
To learn more about how WpLRC addresses workplace skills gaps, contact Bruce Whistler at (650) 641-0161, bwhistler@cccewd.net, or go to www.wplrc.org.
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