"This report offers a serious assessment of where we are as a state and what we need to ensure we have a competitive workforce," Huntsman said. "This is a comprehensive look at our children, our current workforce and those in the job market today. We need an across-theboard, systemic approach to ensure they have the skills to prosper in an increasingly competitive global economy."
The report outlines 10 ways Utah can improve its approach to workforce development. Prominent themes include lifelong learning beginning with early childhood education, preparation for some form of post-high school training or education, a collaborative approach to 21st century skill learning and development, and greater parental involvement and awareness. These would be facilitated, according to the report, by a system-wide alignment of efforts using workforce as an organizing principle.
More than 100 individuals from across the state participated in a total of nearly 5,000 hours of discussion and analysis during the summer and fall of 2008 to develop the report's recommendations. Participants included educators, state leaders in education, technical training experts, business leaders, entrepreneurs, community advocates, labor leaders, teacher organization representatives and government agencies responsible for economic development and workforce services.
In January 2009, Huntsman will convene and chair a group of key stakeholders including leaders from education, business and government to establish a process for addressing the report's recommendations. This group will continue to coordinate, oversee and align efforts across agencies to prepare Utah's workforce for the 21st century, using the report as a guide and foundation.
Ongoing input from stakeholders will be essential to this multi-year effort. In the early stages of this effort, there will be an opportunity for public feedback on the report's recommendations.
