Topeka, KAN. – The Kansas Chamber on Wednesday released its The Challenge to Compete – Kansas Workforce 2020 report during its 2020 Workforce Development and Education Summit.

“Two years ago, the Chamber launched its Kansas Vision 2025 strategic action plan to identify how the state can better compete in attracting, building, and creating wealth in Kansas. As part of those efforts, we commissioned Economic Leadership, LLC to do an in-depth study of our state’s workforce and the many challenges it faces,” said Kansas Chamber President and CEO Alan Cobb. “While the Chamber and its members have long recognized the state’s workforce challenges and have worked to address some of the issues, this new report reinforces the Chamber’s advocacy efforts and will help raise more awareness about the actions elected officials, educators and workforce development leaders should consider so Kansas businesses can find workers with the skills they need.”

The report uses research, a review of national best practices, and interviews with Kansas business, education and workforce development leaders to learn what can be done to improve workforce development and how education can better align with the staffing needs of our state’s industries. It identifies 20 recommendations in five areas of focus to enhance the effectiveness of Kansas’ efforts to educate, train, recruit and retain a qualified workforce.

During the virtual summit, a panel of economic, education and workforce development leaders discussed the report’s recommendations and how they could be implemented in Kansas.

• Ted Abernathy, Economic Leadership, LLC
• Dr. Blake Flanders, Kansas Board of Regents
• Dr. Cynthia Lane, Evolve Education Leadership Consulting, LLC
• Keith Lawing, Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, Inc.

Mr. Abernathy also discussed workforce development challenges Kansas businesses will face post-COVID-19.

“We expect this report to be a living plan that will improve and expand in the next few years as the Chamber meets and works with other stakeholders committed to addressing our state’s workforce challenges,” said Cobb. “We look forward to helping build a talent pipeline that allows Kansas and its citizens to grow and prosper.”

Click here to read the The Challenge to Compete – Kansas Workforce 2020 report.

You can learn more about the Chamber’s strategic action plan at www.KSVision2025.com.

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For more information, contact Sherriene Jones-Sontag.

Posted Oct. 21, 2020