Sebelius announces effort to recruit, retain skilled workers
As the Kansas unemployment rate continues to fall, some Kansas employers are having a difficult time recruiting new workers. At the same time, some potential employees need extra training or help with child care in order to fill these vacancies.
To help employers and employees alike, Governor Kathleen Sebelius today announced the On-TRACK Initiative, an effort designed to help Kansas businesses recruit and retain skilled workers.
"We've got a number of great Kansas businesses looking for skilled workers, and we have a lot of potential employees who either need additional training or a little extra incentive to close the deal," said Sebelius. "We want to help our businesses recruit and retain the workers who will allow our state to continue the economic success of recent years."
On-TRACK, which stands for Training, Recruitment And Careers in Kansas, will help match businesses with skilled employees, and will help businesses retain those employees for the long-term.
While all Kansas employers will benefit from the initiative, Sebelius said several critical industries are being specifically targeted for assistance. Those include aviation & advanced manufacturing, communications, health care, conventional and renewable energy, bioscience, particularly animal health, and the military. Signing bonuses for new employees in these industries will be sponsored by the State of Kansas.
Additionally, the shortage of math, science and special education teachers in rural and high-poverty areas will be a focus, as will an increased emphasis on training and certification of workers through the state's workforce development efforts.
"Competitively recruiting workers into these key sectors is vital to the health of our state's economy" Sebelius said. "These bonuses will help Kansas businesses appeal to a broader spectrum of potential workers and the additional training will help more Kansans receive the skills they need to begin a career in one of these industries."
Sebelius is also calling on Regents institutions to share alumni lists with Kansas companies to provide leads on workers who have an existing relationship with our state.
Competitive benefits are critical to recruiting and retaining workers, with child care being one benefit sought by many potential employees. On-TRACK will promote employer-based child care as a recruitment and retention tool for Kansas businesses.
"Child care is expensive, and for many moms and dads finding quality child care is a real challenge. We want to make it so parents can afford quality care for their children during the hours they're at work," said Sebelius.
A resource team will be available to assist businesses wishing to establish a child care center for employees, with the team including individuals with experience in early childhood development, child care licensing and child care center operations.
Sebelius also said her upcoming budget will fully fund the projected child care assistance case load in the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, which assists low-income workers with child care costs.
Finally, as part of On-TRACK, the Department of Commerce will collaborate with Kansas businesses to target the state's brand image campaign to geographic areas and populations that complement businesses' recruiting strategies.
"We're going to work with businesses to tell the story of what Kansas has to offer potential employees. That'll help their recruitment efforts and bring new families and new vitality to our state," said Sebelius.
Funding for On-TRACK will be included in Sebelius' FY 2008 budget, which will be proposed to the Legislature next week.
http://www.governor.ks.gov/news/NewsRelease/2007/nr-07-0104b.htm