News @ The Works: Skills gap guide, new partnerships, Working Smart expands into South Carolina & more!

What does the skills gap really mean for Charlotte career seekers?

Employers across the country are finding it increasingly difficult to find job candidates that have the right skills for employment . In the Charlotte area, industries such as manufacturing and construction are struggling to find workers who have even basic production skills. Despite the industry’s strong projected growth in Charlotte, the hospitality sector is also experiencing a labor shortage with hotels and restaurants being unable to recruit workers for food service, housekeeping, and administrative positions. Additionally, Charlotte was passed up by Amazon for its second headquarters location because of a lack of skilled IT workers.

New partnership offers customer care agent training program

Charlotte Works, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, Generation, and Charlotte Executive Leadership Council are partnering to bring a Customer Care Agent program to Charlotte. The customer care program trains students by teaching them through direct experience on how to deliver an exemplary customer experience, tools for stress management, and workplace professionalism. At the end of the program, students in good standing will have the opportunity to interview for a position with one of our employer partners that include Atrium Health, Bank of America, Coca-Cola Bottling, Duke Energy, Novant Health, and Wells Fargo.

Charlotte Works teams up with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office to offer NCWorks services

Charlotte Works and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (MSCO), Division of Inmate Programs, has formed a partnership to offer NCWorks programming, services, and vocational training pre and post release. Two full time NCWorks Career Advisors will be assigned to the MSCO to work with young adults and adults who are incarcerated. The partnership will help provide high level employer engagement to increase employment outcomes once individuals are released from jail.

Working Smart expands into South Carolina

As a result of a partnership with Duke Energy and the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce, Working Smart has been adopted by Clover School District for high school students enrolled in vocational courses. This will be the first implementation of the soft skills training program in South Carolina. The first training was successfully completed the week of July 29. There was a group of 14 educators and small business owners. The partnership of these small businesses and educators will prove vital to empowering students. The teachers at Floyd Johnson and Clover High School are excited about incorporating Working Smart into their classes.