BAY AREA COUNCIL MEMBERS ENGAGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERS ON CA’s SKILLS GAP

With 112 campuses, 2.1 million students, and a budget of $7.3 billion, the California Community College System is the largest provider of workforce training in the state and nation. Chancellor Brice Harris and Vice Chancellor Van Ton-Quinlivan were among the community college sector leaders Bay Area Council members engaged at a Strong Workforce Town Hall event held at the Council on Thursday (Aug. 27). The conversation was centered around 25 recommendations contained in a just-released report produced by the California Community Colleges Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation and a Strong Economy that is focused on closing the “skills gap” that is plaguing the California economy and is expected to only get worse.

According to the report, “By 2025, 30 percent of all job openings in California—or a total of 1.9 million jobs—will require some form of postsecondary education short of a four-year degree.” Laura Butler, Vice President, Talent Management and Chief Diversity Officer for Bay Area Council member Pacific Gas and Electric Company, gave remarks on “The Value of a Strong Workforce” as part of the event, which was the final in a series of related town halls held throughout the state and sponsored by Bay Area Council member JP Morgan Chase & Co. View recommendations from the California Community Colleges’ Task Force on Workforce, Job Creation and a Strong Economy>>

Led by Co-Chairs Teresa Briggs of Deloitte and Glenn Shannon of Shorenstein Properties, the Council’s Workforce Development Committee has served as a key partner to the Task Force since its early planning stages and has been a participant in previous town hall events that educated the recommendations and report. To engage in the Council’s Workforce Development policy work, please contact Vice President of Policy Linda Galliher.