70% of jobs require more than a high school degree, how New Bern is building its workforce

Todd Wetherington, Sun Journal
·3 min read
New Bern's Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board has announced the OurFutureENC educational collaborative, a new initiative that seeks to close the local jobs skills gap for first-generation students and students from low-income backgrounds.
New Bern's Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board has announced the OurFutureENC educational collaborative, a new initiative that seeks to close the local jobs skills gap for first-generation students and students from low-income backgrounds.

Though nearly 70% of jobs in North Carolina now require high-quality credentials or postsecondary degrees, fewer than half of North Carolinians ages 25-44 meet those qualifications, according to a recent study by the nonprofit MyFutureNC.

The study projected growth in North Carolina jobs requiring those attainments will outpace growth in jobs requiring only a high school degree by as much as two times by 2028.

In an effort to address that problem, a New Bern educational collaborative is working to close the skills gap preventing many workers from accessing quality jobs in Craven County and other eastern North Carolina communities.

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The Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board has announced the OurFutureENC educational collaborative, a partnership with community colleges and school systems. OurFutureENC’s mission is to close the attainable skills gap, especially for first-generation students and students from low-income backgrounds.

Johanna Schaefer, the outreach specialist with ECWDB, said the collaborative is part of Carolina Across 100, a multi-university effort spearheaded by the University of North Carolina that is partnering with communities in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties.

“This initiative is really to reach out to youth who are not in school or who are not getting their secondary degrees and to really encourage them to get that two-year degree or get training for a high-paying job,” Schaefer said.

OurFutureENC’s goal is to ensure that students have the information, resources, and opportunities they need to prepare for college and to obtain credentials aligning with local business needs, according to Tammy Childers, OurFutureENC executive director.

More: Craven Community College unveils new programs to 'meet the needs' of a growing workforce

More: High job vacancies and an aging population could threaten Craven County's labor force

“The Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board along with community partners will advance the connection between helping job seekers to acquire the skills that are necessary for employment in our current economic growth,” said Childers.

ECWDB along with NCWorks Career Centers’ local workforce partners are championing a collaboration that aligns education and workforce requirements to economic needs, added Childers.

OurFutureENC is focused on delivering those skills through:

  • Academic readiness. Building the foundation Pre-K to 12; high-quality early learning helps prepare children for future success including qualifying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • College and career access. Helping students navigate the transition to postsecondary education by finding ways to gain college-level course work and assisting them in applying for financial assistance.

  • Labor market analysis. Providing alignment between the skills of college graduates and the needs of Eastern North Carolina employers.

For more information about the ECWDB visit https://www.ecwdb.org/.

To learn more about the MyFutureENC collaborative visit https://www.myfuturenc.org/the-goal/

Connecting the dots to in-demand jobs

OurFutureENC’s goal is to increase the educational attainment level by 3% in the Eastern Carolina nine-county region, according to Childers.

“Our vision for eastern North Carolina is a qualified workforce that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and excels in competitive career pathways ensuring that our local businesses are equipped with the talent they need,” Childers said.

OurFutureENC Project Manager Phil Prescott said the initiative will be based on the needs of each county. He said a critical step is simply making students aware of the education and training opportunities available in their communities.

"As far a which credentials and in which field it's whatever's in demand," said Prescott. "In some areas it may be welding, in some it may be boat building or healthcare. We've got a diverse region so the needs on Carteret County is going to be different than in Duplin County. Our role is to connect the dots to make people aware of what's available."

Reporter Todd Wetherington can be reached by email at wwetherington@gannett.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board looks to close skills gap