The Liaisons provide a seamless connection between businesses and education. They identify industry-specific skills and knowledge required of both new and incumbent workers and develop activities that lead to a comprehensive system of workforce development, education and training to meet the region’s current and future needs. Their efforts help create a competitive advantage for industry in the Kansas City region and therefore enhance economic development in the region. These activities include:

• site visits
• internships
• teacher externships
• curriculum development
• career mentoring
• job shadowing

Industry Area Liaisons also assist employers and industry associations in developing and implementing strategies to promote the retention of incumbent workers and provide input into development of certificates, degrees and training programs.

Creating a competitive advantage

While it may be difficult to predict what future workforce needs will be, it is safe to assume that business and industry will require highly skilled and educated workers capable of embracing new technologies, developing innovative products and processes, creating new business models and increasing productivity. Such knowledgeable workers fuel the growth of companies and regional economies.

OneKC WIRED and PREP-KC collaborate with industry leaders and educators to integrate and build upon what were once independent activities to develop a comprehensive system of workforce development, education and training, and economic development to meet the region’s current and future needs. Our goal is to better prepare students to enter the workforce and meet the employment needs of industry. Additionally, our region will gain competitive advantages through the local availability of proficient, highly qualified workers who already have industry-specific skills upon employment.

Providing a better way to connect with your future workforce

Many Kansas City-area high schools are organized into career-themed Small Learning Communities (SLCs). These SLCs are organized around such themes as health sciences, engineering, technology, business and communications. The Industry Area Liaisons were created as a new approach to connect these students and teachers with business and industry partners. These Liaisons are seasoned professionals from their respective industries who work with educators and industry leaders to help students gain access to cutting-edge business and industry requirements and skills.

Workers in all kinds of positions can visit a classroom and share their own stories of career development to help inspire local students. Subject matter experts from advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and healthcare can collaborate with educators to develop curricula that is relevant, application-based and includes up-to-date advancements in the specific industry.

• Advocating and implementing internships in your organization can provide a tested candidate pool for employment.
• Summer teacher externships can provide your organization with temporary employees who have math, business, science or healthcare expertise.
• At the same time, these experiences provide educators with industry insight that enhances their curricula and projects real-world application to students.

Get involved and help ensure that the Kansas City region has a highly qualified future workforce.

Focusing on high-growth, high-demand industry sectors

OneKC WIRED initially targets the high-demand industries of advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and healthcare; but we will continue to assess regional and industry trends and explore strategies that enhance our region’s competitiveness.

Advanced manufacturing has become a complex industry. Most of the things we use on a daily basis are manufactured, whether it is cell phones, automobiles, medical equipment, computers, clothing or pharmaceuticals. The factory system has changed as well. Products that were once handmade are now manufactured using the world’s most advanced technologies – creating dramatic changes in the skills required of the advanced manufacturing worker. The best manufacturing jobs require, at a minimum, some level of post-secondary education, training or certification.

Biotechnology, as an industry, did not exist before 1976. Scientific discoveries and innovations have accelerated the growth and diversity of sectors in this industry. Entry-level workers spend their first year of employment gaining sector-specific skills through on-the-job-training. To be competitive in a rapidly expanding global industry, American biotechnology companies will need incoming workers with knowledge and application skills at a higher competency level. As the biotechnology industry matures, workers with science backgrounds are being promoted to management positions, often without the necessary organizational and communications skills to deal with building teams, overseeing fiscal operations, and leading strategic planning and the demand for highly qualified workers has significantly outpaced the supply.

The healthcare workforce faces several challenges in the upcoming decade. Retirement and phased-retirement will create a shortage of skilled workers. Technological advancements continue to increase the capacity for care and treatment of disease, resulting in an increased need for healthcare professionals. Occupations within the healthcare industry are labor intensive and require advanced knowledge, skills, and technological aptitude and training. Advanced skills in professionalism, teamwork, oral and written communication, critical thinking and problem solving are also necessary.

A unified regional focus is required to successfully compete in today’s marketplace. The Kansas City region is at the center of our nation’s efforts to maintain our global competitiveness. We invite you to join a growing alliance of leaders who are committed to ensuring the future of our region—and our nation! Students need industry role models and real-life, relevant learning experiences in order to become aware, informed and interested in specific careers. Your current workforce can inspire and motivate students to seek the education and training to become your future workforce!