A statewide plan on workforce development has been unveiled, outlining a coordinated strategy that Gov. Ned Lamont said is designed to meet both the needs of the current economic environment and those of the future.
The Governor”™s Workforce Council led the effort, with input from industry representatives, educators, state agencies, local and national policymakers, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholder groups.
“From the very beginning of my administration, I have emphasized how critical a strong workforce is for the success of Connecticut,” Lamont said.
“This pandemic has made this more relevant than ever. This effort, led by the Governor”™s Workforce Council, is laying the foundation for not only a robust workforce, but the long-term success of Connecticut as a whole.”
“The development of this plan is a prime example of how we can convene stakeholders from all across the state, with a wide variety of perspectives, to contribute in a meaningful way to crafting recommendations that will help create a workforce that is inclusive, modern, and high performing,” added Kelli Vallieres, executive director of the Office of Workforce Strategy in the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.
The 50-page plan focuses on four key areas:
- Developing a workforce agenda that reflects the talent needs of business and industry;
- Building an educational system that is agile and able to meet these needs;
- Ensuring students and job seekers have the support they need to maintain participation in the workforce; and
- Crafting a data system infrastructure that tracks outcomes and progress of the workforce over time.
“The strategic plan is a critical first step in developing a nation-leading workforce in Connecticut, but there is more work to be done,” Garrett Moran, chair of the Governor”™s Workforce Council, said.
“This charter lays out the workforce goals and strategies for the state, and I have the utmost confidence in our industry partners, educators, state agencies, and other key stakeholders to effectively implement these recommendations over the coming years.”
