Jelly Belly Executive Visits Students at Armijo High School to Discuss Skills Needed for Workplace Success

Citing concerns about the pending skills gap in California, national business leader group ReadyNation recently released a research report on Solano County. The report shows that, by 2027, the majority of jobs in the county will require a level of education that local workers do not have. The report highlights employers’ concerns about the lack of communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills required for almost all careers in the world today.

California is currently facing a deficit of roughly one million workers with bachelor’s degrees to fill open jobs, and Solano County will not be spared. Within a decade, approximately 63 percent of the fastest growing, high-wage jobs in Solano County will require an associate’s degree or higher. Statewide, economists estimate that 20 of the top 30 occupations with the highest projected skills gaps will require at least some postsecondary education, with the majority requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.

A pipeline of skilled workers will be hard to create when approximately 18 percent of California’s high school students fail to graduate on time. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 28 percent of 8th graders in California are proficient in reading, only 27 percent are proficient in math and only 24 percent are proficient in science.

Workforce concerns have prompted education, business and community leaders in Solano County to take a fresh look at the way students are being educated. They are working collaboratively to better align curriculum and classroom instruction with job requirements and skills employers are seeking.

John Jamison, Vice President of The Jelly Belly Candy Company, met with students in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) class at Armijo High School last week, and together with community leaders and elected officials, led a discussion about the general skills and qualifications employers seek when making hiring decisions.

“No matter what the industry, at the end of the day, we all want to hire someone who can think through problems and offer a solution, someone who works well in a team environment to get the job accomplished,” Jamison told the group of high school students.

The report, Connecting Classrooms to Careers to Shrink California’s Skills Gap, highlights the importance of pursuing educational approaches that have been proven to boost student outcomes and improve the economy. Schools throughout California, for example, are incorporating academic approaches that emphasize deeper learning core competencies which include rigorous academics, work-based learning, technical skill development and individualized student supports. Hands-on, work-connected learning helps students better understand how their education relates to careers, know what is expected in the workplace, and develop communication, collaboration and critical-thinking capabilities. Students in deeper learning schools were found to be 19 percent more likely to enroll in four-year colleges.

"Solano County has made great strides in bridging classrooms to careers. It’s great to see firsthand how serious students are taking their academics and how carefully they are considering their career options. A better prepared, more engaged workforce benefits us all,” said Jamison.

Members of ReadyNation are calling on policymakers to support innovative educational models, such as career academies, that incorporate deeper learning approaches to help ensure students graduate from high school better prepared for the workforce and whatever postsecondary education and training programs they might pursue. California must protect and expand funding support for promising educational models so they can reach more students over the long run.

“If we expect to compete and succeed in the global marketplace, we must act now to ensure our businesses have the skilled workforce we need,” said Susan Bonilla, California State Director of Council for a Strong America, the national, nonpartisan parent organization of ReadyNation. “Innovative educational models, such as those incorporating deeper learning approaches, merit greater support to ensure students exit high school prepared for success in both college and career.”

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ReadyNation leverages the experience, influence, and expertise of more than 1,600 business executives to promote public policies and programs that build a stronger workforce and economy. It is a part of Council for a Strong America, the umbrella nonprofit for five membership organizations comprising the unique and powerful voices of retired military, business, law enforcement, faith and sports, working together to prepare young Americans for success in school and in life.