Is Washington's workforce ready? A policy forum brought to you by SkillUp Washington and Port Jobs Friday, December 4th, 2009 In the 2007 report America’s Perfect Storm, Irwin Kirsch, Director of the Center for Global Assessment at the Educational Testing Service, identifies three converging developments that are powerfully shaping America’s workforce. Kirsch and his co-authors explain that in recent years,
the United States has fallen behind in educational attainment relative to other
developed countries. Large numbers of
adults age sixteen or older have little or no basic literacy and numeracy
skills, which leaves this group unprepared for the demands of today’s global
economy. This change is occurring in an era
when post-secondary education and skills training are increasingly linked to
higher earnings. At the same time, our nation's immigrant populations have grown significantly, and non-native English speakers are more likely to lack the basic skills and training that could help them advance. Given today's globalized labor market, this combination of
factors is hurting American workers’ competitiveness, and could create an acute problem in the coming years. Western Washington’s workforce is not exempt from these phenomena; in fact, our region is highly diverse and immigrant populations are growing. Furthermore, many of Washington’s lower-skilled adults have difficulty gaining the knowledge and education necessary to begin a career. What are we doing in Washington to ensure that in five, ten or fifteen years, our workers are competitive on the global stage?
The Forum On December 4th, 2009, policymakers, community organizations, educators and planners will come together to explore how we can improve opportunities for Washington's adult workers and strengthen our state's businesses. This discussion will generate a better understanding of the needs and challenges of Washington’s most undereducated and least prepared residents. This requires particular focus on the unique language and literacy needs of Washington’s large immigrant population. Participants will hear from Irwin Kirsch and other national and local experts about what must happen to ensure the future economic well-being of our state. These experts will also highlight specific programs and policies that can lead adult workers to relevant skills training, a college education, or a career.
Program Participants will hear from nationally known researchers and practitioners in the field. These guest speakers will discuss pertinent factors that are changing today’s workforce, and highlight programs and policies from all parts of the country that are effectively meeting the challenges of adult basic education and changing the lives of adult workers. Participants will learn the specific elements of these programs that have made them successful. Featured Speakers Irwin Kirsch, Director, Center for Global Assessment, Educational Testing Service (ETS) Julie Strawn, Senior Policy Analyst for Workforce Development, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) Mark Martinez, Executive Secretary, Pierce County Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO Betsy McKay, Director of Bilingual Leadership, McDonald's Corporation Ricardo Estrada, Vice President of Programs and Education, Instituto del Progreso Latino |