It’s Workforce Development Month
By Michelle Day, Director, Workforce Services
In 2005 the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) designated September as Workforce Development Month. The U.S. Senate passed a resolution in 2022 naming the same. The issue of ensuring our nation has a competitive workforce has gained great attention and has been especially called to the forefront post-pandemic. You don’t need to scroll too long to find headlines speaking calling out labor market churn, the “Great Resignation”, “Quiet Quitting”, and other workforce and economic trends.
There is not a day that passes where I don’t hear the words from our local business community, “we need access to the workforce,” or “we’re hiring and can’t find anyone.” That’s when our team here at Workforce Services takes on the challenge to develop solutions. The staff here are committed to their workforce development profession and have launched innovative and effective programs to connect businesses and career seekers. While this month has been designated as “Workforce Development Month” and there are a lot of ways to celebrate that, I think one of the best ways is to recognize those in the field itself. It is one of the professions where one can truly make a difference. The work itself can be challenging but extremely rewarding.
I recently asked some of my colleagues the following
What do you enjoy most about your career in Workforce Development?
“Being able to facilitate groups, use my training and skills to coach people to reach successful outcomes.”
Rena, Employment and Training Specialist, GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator),
CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer)
“My favorite part of my job is learning about all the amazing things that are happening in our local businesses and being helping people find careers doing amazing things in our community."
Patty, Program Manager, PHR (professional in Human Resources), CWDP (Certified Workforce Development Professional,
CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer)
How did you get into this field?
“I was a program participant working with the staff at FCWS during the Great Recession. I was encouraged by my Career Specialist to apply for an open workforce development position at Workforce Services. It was a great match for my previous non-profit experience helping people.”
Teri, Employment and Training Specialist, MA, GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator),
CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer)
“I got into this field initially working at non-profit in Pennsylvania in the early 2000s. In my 11 years there, I worked my way up to program manager then joined the team at Workforce Services. I enjoy giving people hope by listening to them, sometimes when they are at their lowest. I enjoy seeing the joy on individual’s faces when they succeed. I also enjoy working behind the scenes to support my team to make tasks easier for them.”
Gwen, Program Specialist and CWDP (Certified Workforce Development Professional)
Whether it’s working with businesses to support their workforce needs or connecting individuals to education and skills development, I've always maintained the key to our success rests with the actual workforce development practitioners in the field. There is still much to be done to continue to support a strong and skilled workforce, and it helps to know we have such a dedicated team of professionals who will continue to advance this work.