Employer-Driven Workforce Development
The next two sections will highlight strategies and stories of local employers in Oklahoma who are taking workforce development into their own hands. The terms upskilling and reskilling have been used a lot recently, and it’s important to understand the difference between the two. The United States Chamber of Commerce describes the terms as: Upskilling “...when employees learn new information and skills to help them do their current jobs better. It optimizes their performance while helping them navigate change. The training may enable staff to be more efficient and productive or educate them on modern techniques.” Reskilling “...learning new abilities to take on a different job role or function. It allows businesses to retain exceptional employees even if their job or department was eliminated. The new position may share some aspects of their previous one but require new skills. In some cases, reskilling requires workers to earn a degree or certification in a different area of expertise.” In a 2022 Future of Work Employer Study that the Center for the Future of Work conducted, 17% of employers said they were extremely likely to need to reskill portions of their workforce due to advances in technology and 45% stated they were somewhat likely. Employers can support their employees’ learning and development through several modes: Internal training development efforts of employers. These can be trainings that are designed and facilitated in-house, or training programs acquired through third-party vendors or learning management systems. 1. Continued financial support of education and for-credit or non-credit learning opportunities. This could include tuition reimbursement for degree completion or a professional certificate program related to the employee’s occupation. 2. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education spearheaded the Upskill Oklahoma initiative, where individuals can pursue micro-credentials to help achieve their career goals. Upskill Oklahoma can help employers identify talent and also partner with educational institutions to develop micro-credentials that would fill current industry skill gaps. An example of these partnerships includes a drill rig safety program designed as an entry-level program for individuals interested in the groundwater industry. The following industry partners collaborated with Oklahoma State University to create this program: Associated Environmental Industries, Pumps of Oklahoma, National Ground Water Association and Franklin Electric.
WorkTrends 2024
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