Focusing on upskilling and apprenticeships is vital for employee retention, particularly in regions that may lack specialized skill sets. By training individuals who are already rooted in the community, colleges can help industry partners foster loyalty and commitment, reducing turnover rates significantly.
Why Train Locally?
- Community Connection: Employees who are born and raised in a community often have a deeper connection to the area, fostering a sense of belonging and commitment to local employers. This intrinsic belonging can lead to longer tenures compared to employees who relocate and may view their employment as temporary.
- Reduced Relocation Challenges: Hiring and relocating talent from outside the region presents numerous challenges, including logistical issues, financial burdens, and cultural adjustments.
- Building a Sustainable Talent Pipeline: By establishing ongoing training partnerships with local business’s, employers and colleges can create a robust talent pipeline within their communities.
An example of this trend can be seen in the Tool & Die, where only 2% of the workforce is under the age of 35, and the industry is geographically concentrated in just 2-3 regions across North America. However, apprenticeship programs that train local students in areas outside of these clusters are now contributing significantly to the Tool & Die workforce. In the past, companies faced challenges in relocating individuals to states like California, Texas, and New York, where the industry was comparably smaller. Today, these local training initiatives are helping to build a sustainable workforce, reducing the need for relocation and fostering talent within the community. This is extremely relevant to the growing battery industry as skillsets are wholly new or require adapting of existing jobs.
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