Mar 31, 2017 By Stacey Olson 4 min read

 The tri-state region is undergoing an exciting period of growth and opportunity. Over the next decade, the region’s workforce will be entirely transformed by a wave of retirements, new growth and occupational transitions, creating multi-generational opportunities across industries.

To take full advantage, we need a pipeline of skilled workers who have the technical, academic, and hands-on training needed to match this steady growth.

According to a recent Allegheny Conference on Community Development study that looked at projected labor market demands, our region will need to fill 340,000 jobs over the next 10 years. These high-demand well-paying careers cut across healthcare and information technology, as well as computer-controlled machine operators, industrial mechanics, and engineers.

But the study also found that given this projected growth, we could face a shortage of 80,000 workers, and many of these jobs could go unfilled in the next decade simply because younger workers lack the necessary skills to immediately step into these positions.

From technology start-ups to advanced manufacturing and energy-related careers, it’s clear that our future workforce will need strong science, technology, engineering, and math skills.

Another report, released by RAND Corporation this week, found STEM-related fields are not only sectors with the highest demand for new workers, but they also command the highest pay. The report goes on to note that even “a person in a non-technology job will still be expected to have technology knowledge.”

All of this data points to the need for newer, most robust approaches to education, training, and hiring.

We must more effectively align labor demands and with the education and skills needed to obtain those jobs. As employers, we must shift from being simply consumers of talent to becoming investors in the next generation of workers through enhancing and tailoring educational opportunities.

These shared opportunities and successes require broad-based collaboration. Civic leaders, private companies, foundations, educators, and parents must work in tandem to map out paths that help students excel from the classroom to work-based learning opportunities, and ultimately to long-term family sustaining jobs.

Recognizing these inherent challenges and opportunities, Chevron, along with the Allegheny Conference, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, The Grable Foundation, and RAND serving as an independent, data-driven third-party, launched the Appalachia Partnership Initiative in 2014.

Our mission is to support STEM-related educational and training programs that better prepare our region’s workforce to succeed in energy and advanced manufacturing sector careers.

Guided by research and stakeholder input, we take a collaborative approach to working with educators, businesses, and the community to support innovative, fit-for-purpose education and training opportunities across the region, with an emphasis on rural communities.

As a recent example, we’ve invested in regional FabLabs, one of which is located at an Intermediate Unit 1 facility in Fayette County and supports schools as well as career and technology centers across Washington, Fayette and Greene Counties. These unique learning spaces provide students with hands-on experiences to design, engineer and produce products through the use of 3D printers, laser cutters and other software-driven tools.

In Wheeling, W.Va. area schools, we recently provided educational grants to expand Project Lead the Way programs – which provide STEM curriculum and intensive teacher professional development – throughout elementary, middle and high schools.

Additionally, we’re focused on adult workforce training programs through ShaleNET and Southwest Training Services, among others, that retrain and match early- and mid-career adults with new employment opportunities.

As we take stock in our early progress, we recognize that there’s much more work ahead. Chevron and our API partners remain fully committed to delivering results that will continue to benefit our region’s communities. We invite the Pittsburgh region’s leaders to join us in preparing for the next economic resurgence – one that will serve generations to come.

Ms. Olson is the president of Coraopolis-based Chevron Appalachia. She also serves on the Board of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and the board of the Center for Responsible Shale Development. To learn more about the Appalachia Partnership Initiative, visit www.appalachiapartnership.org.