From Volkswagen to Alstom, local employers have expressed their concern that they have jobs available but are missing a qualified workforce to fill certain positions.
In an effort to bridge that gap, the Enterprise Gateway Council of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a meeting on ways schools and institutions are working to accommodate local employers, many of which operate in the East Hamilton area, with a highly qualified workforce.
“One of our biggest challenges is that we’ve got students who are 18 years old fresh out of high school and moms coming back to the workplace alongside someone who might already be in their 30s with a lot of work skills,” said Chattanooga State Community College professor of business management Ed Southeard. “These factors can make it difficult as an instructor.”
Recently, he said, the technical school worked to streamline its programs into specific tracks comprised of accounting technology, applied technology management and general management with certain concentrations and specific certification programs.
This way of instructing has helped ensure all students get some of the general soft skills some employers find them lacking, he said.