Middle-Skill Jobs an Opportunity for New City: New Report

Westchester Community College and the New Skills at Work-Lower Hudson Valley Stakeholder Collaborative have released a new report: "CONNECTING TO PROMISING CAREERS: Middle-Skill Jobs in the Lower Hudson Valley."
This major report contains findings on the changing nature of the regional economy and recommendations for educators, businesses and government to support the education and training required to empower the local workforce, WCC officials said. 

Middle-skills jobs are defined as those jobs which require education beyond high school but less than a four-year degree. 

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The National Skills Coalition reports that key industries in the United States are unable to find enough sufficiently trained workers to fill middle skill jobs. In New York, 46 percent of anticipated job openings from 2012-22 will be in the middle skills category, WCC officials said.
In order to access middle skill jobs, people need education and training that is truly aligned with what employers say they need, now and in the future. 
Jobs that might once have required a high school education are becoming more sophisticated and now require higher-level skills, including communication and customer service, presentation, analytic, and computer skills.
The report focuses on three middle skill occupational clusters in the Lower Hudson Valley: health information management, tech support, and hospitality management, WCC officials said. These fields include jobs that pay well, are in demand and projected to continue to grow, have opportunities for career advancement over time, and may not have an adequate supply of qualified candidates. 
Key report findings in each cluster include:

• Health Information Management: an area with multiple career pathways where industry credentials are key to securing jobs, there is a need for entry-level employees with sound customer service skills, and the valued Registered Health Information Technology credential is not offered as an in-person program by regional education and training providers.
• Information Technology: it is difficult for employers to find people with the appropriate combination of technical and customer support skills. Industry-recognized credentials and hands-on experience enhance marketability. While individuals can start IT careers with a high school diploma and industry certification, an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree is required for supervisory and management positions.
• Hospitality Management: customer service skills are “the currency” in this industry, many employers prefer to promote from within, there are many middle skill management positions, but candidates must have at least an Associate degree to be considered for them, and hospitality-type jobs are found in a variety of settings, including luxury residences and healthcare facilities.

The development of the report was funded by a $150,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase through the firm’s New Skills at Work initiative, a five-year $250 million commitment to support demand-driven skills training for adults. 
“The employment landscape in the Hudson Valley is changing, and we must ensure we are training people for the jobs of the future, and jobs in demand,” said Sarah Steinberg, Vice President, Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase. “This report provides a detailed pathway to help correct the mismatch between job skills and employment needs, and it arms government officials, job trainers and employers with the data they need to close this gap.”
Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President of Westchester Community College, said in a press release that “Preparing individuals with the education, training, and workplace competencies necessary to ensure a qualified pipeline of employees to fill these middle skill positions is an essential part of the community college mission. Responding to the workforce needs of regional employers and supporting a diverse labor force in skills training and general education requires a network of interested and committed partners.”
In order for the Lower Hudson Valley to continue to thrive, local employers must be able to rely on talent drawn from the workforce in the region, WCC officials said. 
The education and workforce community must work collaboratively with industry to align the skills of the workforce with the needs of the workplace. The regional stakeholders that convened for this project are committed to continuing this work to insure a skilled employee pipeline; the group includes workforce professionals, employers, government agencies, business associations, and education and training providers.