You can’t turn on the news nowadays without hearing about “workforce development” or some other employee shortage. Now that we’re in a new year and the Virginia General Assembly session is about to kick into gear, the conversation in Virginia is only going to get hotter….
With record-low unemployment, Virginia has an enormous need for workers to fill an estimated 300,000 open jobs, according to Governor Glenn Youngkin, who has asked business and education leaders for transformational ideas that will help fill these jobs quickly. It’s a daunting task. Not only is…
FastForward programs across Virginia’s 23 community colleges offer funding to help students complete short-term workforce training in high-demand industries. The qualifying industries range widely but all have one thing in common: the programs are based on the needs of local employers, which means students are in…
There’s a chance you are stumbling upon this blog post, and it’s your very first time hearing the words “FastForward workforce training.” But we’re actually several years into a program that was established in 2016. Back then, the General Assembly wanted a program to create and…
If you’ve been following Virginia workforce news lately, you may have seen a trend: information technology (IT) jobs are on the rise. Don’t let the Meta and Twitter layoffs steer you away from the future of the IT industry, as companies such as Hitachi Energy, FiberX…
Virginia needs more welders, particularly maritime welders. The state has not been immune to the staffing shortages affecting industries across the country. By 2023, the American Welding Society estimates that the industry will be short by 375,000 welders. With the average welder 55 years or older,…
Virginia’s Community Colleges are gearing up to train thousands of workers to help rebuild the commonwealth’s aging roads and bridges. The Virginia Infrastructure Academy (VIA) will coordinate, scale up and replicate successful infrastructure-related community college training programs. The goal is to produce a total of 35,000…
Carpentry is arguably one of the oldest trades or professions in the world. For millennia, humans have been working with wood to build homes, cross vast expanses and ship goods across the globe. Over time, carpentry has evolved to include new innovative techniques that require the…
While you are working hard earning credentials in the classroom or out in the field, it’s also important to start planning for your next job. Attending a career fair can be a great place to make connections, learn about an industry and figure out your future…
Welding and manufacturing roles play an essential part in our society’s infrastructure and impact our lives every day—from the vehicles that we drive, to the buildings we live in and even the ships that protect us. Experienced welders are highly sought after throughout the country and…