Oct. 15, 2018 -- Nearly half (46 percent) of U.S. employers report difficulty filling jobs with qualified candidates, according to the Manpower Group 2018 Talent Shortage Survey. To help staffing, training and recruiting professionals, the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board will present a high-level learning and discussion symposium, Oct. 24, 2018 9 – 11:30 a.m. at the Mount Vernon Career Center located at 130 Mount Vernon Ave., Mount Vernon, NY, 10550.
The event will host professional panelists from recruiting, workforce development, colleges, economic development, and area businesses to help address the current talent shortage.
“Demand for recruiting, training and staffing services continues to grow as labor markets tighten and companies place a higher strategic focus on customized talent and training,” says Thom Kleiner, Director, Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board.
“Economic Development has traditionally focused on creating jobs while workforce development focuses on getting people jobs and developing their skills to increase their earnings. We are excited to be partnering closely and collaborating across disciplines to discuss and find solutions to the talent shortage and skills gaps as this is crucially important to the economic viability of Westchester County,” adds Bridget Gibbons, Director, Westchester County Office of Economic Development
“It’s important to bring together experts from government, staffing services, secondary and higher education, and the private sector to dive into the talent shortage topic,” explains Dr. LaTasha Hamlett-Carver, Program Specialist, “and brainstorm solutions for organizations to meet their demands for sourcing qualified staff and training existing employees to increase productivity or gain new skills to meet shifting demand.”
Employers of all sizes and sectors are invited for this free symposium on October 24th to discuss and learn how the Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network, Express Employment Professionals and local colleges are joining forces to address the talent gap and provide career paths with state-of-the-art technology, innovative training approaches, resources and services to youth, adults and employers.
Following the Overview of Career Center Services, attendees will participate in a Panel Discussion on the Talent Shortage moderated by Allison Madison, President, Madison Approach Staffing.
Members of the panel representing all facets of local workforce development are:
Bridget Gibbons, Director, Westchester County Office of Economic Development
Thom Kleiner, Director, Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board
Dr. Sterling Jasper, Owner, Express Employment Professionals
Jeanne Maloney, Assistant Dean Workforce, Westchester Community College
Orane Barrett, Kool Nerd Club
Joseph DiCarlo, MBA, SPHR, Chief Talent and Engagement Office, WESTMED Practice.
Recently, Whole Foods, FedEx, UPS, Stop & Shop, WestCOP, and even the U.S. Postal Service, have all turned to the Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network—which includes locations in White Plains, Mount Vernon, Peekskill, and Carmel—to host on-site job fairs to connect job seekers to employers.
RSVP online at Talent Shortage Sumposium, or call (914) 813-6193. MVCC is located at 130 Mount Vernon Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY, 10550.
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