Examining Approaches to Building the TBED Workforce

States are increasingly seeking new approaches to maintaining a pipeline of skilled workers, qualified to fill the gaps left by baby boomers retiring in the coming years and college graduates pursuing career options elsewhere. Over the past several years, state economic development agencies, nonprofit organizations, and industry-led groups have not only stepped up their efforts to recruit and retain high-tech workers, but also are examining the key factors involved in attracting high-tech workers to a region.

Recently, a privately-owned manufacturing contractor in Idaho announced a new initiative to build the skills of workers in rural areas of the state, which in turn will make the region more likely to attract new industries. Several partners have signed on to take part in the program, called Rural Idaho Outreach Partners, including the Idaho Department of Labor, the Idaho National Laboratory, and the Salmon Valley Business and Innovation Center.

While the program is very much in its infancy, early plans include outreach at area high schools to expose students to opportunities in various technical fields and a forum for organizers to further refine the goals of the program with input from regional business leaders. Additionally, a new 12,000-square-foot facility is in the planning stages at the Salmon Valley Business and Innovation Center to provide a transition from classroom instruction to actual production jobs. Premier Technology, the company spearheading the initiative, also expects jobs in clean technology to be available in the region through subcontracting opportunities.

Additional efforts being seen across the nation include training workers and attracting new companies in a specific niche area for the state - particularly those in emerging life science fields. Three new educational initiatives from grade school to graduate school aimed at training life science workers are starting this fall in Indiana, reports The Indianapolis Star. They include a doctoral program in biostatistics at Indiana University (IU)-Purdue University Indianapolis, a year-long Executive Certificate in the Business of Life Sciences program at IU-Bloomington, and a new Indiana Life Sciences Academy for about 600 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

On the flipside of building a technically skilled workforce is attracting the high-tech companies to employ them. In an effort to recruit more biotech start-ups to the state - building on an existing base of skilled workers - Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley announced a proposal earlier this year to double its Biotech Investment Tax Credit in FY10 and again in FY13 under the new Maryland Bio 2020 Initiative (see the June 19, 2008 issue of the Digest). The proposal would allow companies, individuals and venture capital groups to apply for tax credits for investment in a biotech company.

While these new initiatives focus on cultivating a workforce capable of handling current and future high-tech demands and re-training existing workers, TBED practitioners also want to know about the X factor. What influences high-tech workers to choose one area of the country over another to work and live? What are the "deal breakers" involved, and how can TBED organizations become better positioned to compete for these workers?

Learn More about Workforce Issues and TBED

SSTI will examine the issue of building the TBED workforce at our 12th Annual Conference in Cleveland. This panel discussion will feature Marsha Schachtel, Senior Fellow, Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies and Jeff Kjenstad, Local Office Manager, South Dakota Department of Labor. TBED practitioners will not want to miss the original research conducted and presented by Marsha Schachtel and Jeff Kjenstad's unique insight on one of the nation's most promising new programs for recruiting skilled workers and businesses to South Dakota. For more information about the conference, please visit: http://www.ssticonference.org.