OVERVIEW
Education level often determines an adult’s ability to move into a sustainable career pathway, obtain a job that pays a living wage, and progress toward long-term financial stability. An adult’s earnings can increase by more than $700,000 over a lifetime by attaining at least a high school equivalency diploma28 and even more with the addition of some postsecondary training.
Only 32 percent of working Iowans have the skills and credentials needed to work in the middle-skill positions that make up 55 percent of Iowa’s jobs.
Source: Advocacy Agenda Building on Smart Investments in Iowa’s Workforce and Industries, 2018
Increasing opportunities for adults to gain fundamental employment-ready skills and industry-recognized credentials can expand the skilled workforce central Iowa employers need and, ultimately, grow our economy. Our community must build an infrastructure so that more adults can access and receive supportive services and navigate their way to meaningful employment.
OBJECTIVES
When people are asked about their hopes for the future, they often answer, “good jobs for myself and my children.” This work group will focus on the intersection and gaps between employer needs and job seekers’ skills and experiences. It’s important that employers don’t have unfilled jobs and anyone who wants a job can have one that builds on the strength of their skills and offers purpose. Working across sectors, we’ll collaborate to help every central Iowan reach their potential.
FIRST-PHASE
GOALS
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RESULTS
|
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1. Support an
initiative to increase the number of central Iowans working towards their
high school equivalency diploma. |
·
Launched the Bridges to Success
initiative with an aggressive goal to help 10,000 central Iowans achieve a high school equivalency diploma by 2020 by designing and implementing an
evidence-based diploma preparation program. ·
Awarded more than 1,500 high school equivalency
diplomas in two years. |
|
2. Advocate for
legislation to expand alternative pathways. |
·
Advocated successfully for the
passage of HF473, expanding alternative pathways for Iowans to achieve high
school equivalency diplomas. |
|
3. Seek grant to
support training initiatives in central Iowa. |
·
Secured $2.2 million grant from the
U.S. Department of Labor to launch Central Iowa HealthWorks, to train more
than 400 central Iowans in high-demand health care careers over the next four
years. |
|
4. Increase the
number of central Iowans pursuing postsecondary education. |
·
Increased the number of individuals
pursuing postsecondary education: ·
2,293 more people attained some
college and/or associate degree in one year. ·
2,739 more people attained a
bachelor’s degree or higher in one year. |
SECOND-PHASE GOALS |
RESULTS |
|
1. Increase the percentage of central Iowa adults who have high-quality degrees, certificates, and other credentials to 75% by 2025, with educational outcomes aligning to workforce needs (Capital Crossroads – Human Capital/EDGE Plan). |
· Increase the number of adults who complete a high school equivalency diploma. · Promote awareness of the need to match employee skills and employer needs by not requiring college degrees for jobs that don’t require college-level skills. · Increase the number of individuals who complete industry-recognized certifications in technology-related careers. |
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2. Address advocacy issues to improve opportunities for adults to get the education and training needed for employment and career pathways. |
· Support the Iowa Skills2Compete Coalition recommendations. · Repealed automatic driver’s license suspension for non-driving drug offenders. · Advance state engagement with the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training program (SNAP E&T). |
JOIN THE FIGHT
Click the button to join a work group, or get additional information about the OpportUNITY initiative.
OpportUNITY Work Groups
