Later this month, the Central Illinois Workforce Board hosts its annual meeting in conjunction with the second annual Talent Force 21 Summit. Talent Force 21 is a partnership between the Central Illinois Workforce Development Board and about 80 community partner organizations representing workforce development, economic development, education, business, labor, government, and community development. These organizations have come together over the past two years to address the significant challenges facing central Illinois as we seek to compete in a 21st century knowledge economy.
Talent Force 21 grew out of the 10 key challenges identified in the groundbreaking research report "21st Century Workforce: Central Illinois." These challenges address the issues of ensuring an adequate supply of quality workers to meet the needs of business and industry in the new knowledge economy. About two dozen community leaders have come forward to champion the 10 challenges for our community. Over the last 18 months, they've brought together about 200 leaders in central Illinois to develop specific goals and action steps for each challenge. The challenges include:
- Make central Illinois a "Learning Community." Economically successful communities in the 21st century will have knowledge-based organizations, a diverse economy, and a well-educated workforce.
- Reduce dropout rates and raise graduation rates in central Illinois high schools. The jobs of the 21st century will require more education and training, and most will require post-high school training and certification.
- Improve educational outcomes of K-12 education. Currently, about 40 percent of central Illinois high school students lack basic skills in reading, math, writing, science, and social studies.
- Ensure the proper mix of education, training, and support services are available to all members of the community. Effective transitions between school to work and ongoing training and professional development will be critical elements of this system.
- Work with all employers and trainers to make training and re-training the nation's best. Central Illinois employers must have the ability to develop learning organizations and facilitate ongoing professional development for their workers. Most workers will need re-training to keep up with the constantly changing knowledge and skill requirements of new jobs.
- Focus on the recruitment and retention of a skilled workforce pool. The ability to produce, recruit, and retain the quantity and quality of human capital will be critical for our region.
- Reduce barriers to workforce participation for all who want to work. With a potential shortfall of 18,000 workers over the next decade, our region must increase worker productivity and maximize workforce participation rates, especially among key target groups such as older workers, individuals with disabilities, and the economically disadvantaged.
- Make central Illinois a highly attractive place to live and work. The quality of life in our region is an essential element to attract the types of human talent needed for the region's economy and its businesses.
- Work together for the benefit of all in the region. Bureaucratic barriers have to be reduced and eliminated. Regional governments will have to continue to find ways to collaborate and not compete.
- Make Peoria NEXT a success. New economic export engines will be critical to the future of our region. Peoria NEXT is an outstanding first step and represents a bright economic and community development opportunity for central Illinois.
On October 19, the Talent Force 21 Summit reconvenes with a progress report on how our region is addressing these challenges. The Summit also will showcase the many examples of innovation and progress in central Illinois. We look forward to the outcome. IBI
