April 23, 2007
REPORT OUTLINES HOW TO BUILD NEXT GENERATION WORKFORCE
Department
of Economic Development Releases Comprehensive Study of Young People to
Determine What Draws Them to Vermont
MONTPELIER "Young
workers want to live in Vermont,
but the state must create high-paying jobs and affordable housing for them" and let them know about it.
Those were among the findings of a comprehensive study of young people
designed to find out what will make the next generation of Vermonters want to
live and work here.
"This report tells us that young people with a connection to Vermont -- including a very significant majority of
those who come to attend college -- also consider Vermont as a potentially attractive place to
live and work," said Vermont Commissioner of Economic Development Mike
Quinn.
Speaking at a briefing in Burlington late last week to announce the
release of the "Growing Vermont's Next Generation Workforce"
report, Quinn noted that two-thirds of nearly 2,000 alumni of Vermont's
colleges and universities now living out of state said they'd consider
returning.
"We need to remind them that we'd like to have them
back," he said. "And in ways and through channels that work for
them."
The report was commissioned by Gov. Jim Douglas in January 2006 and was
prepared by a team of consultants that included Next Generation Consulting of
Madison Wisconsin; the University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies; and led
by TIP Strategies of Austin, Texas.
Governor Douglas raised the issue in response to news that Vermont had become the
second oldest state in the nation and amid reports that employers were
expressing concerns about their aging workforces and their ability to find
workers.
"The state of Vermont
will not be able to keep all of its young people from leaving," said Jon
Roberts, Managing Director of Economic Development for TIP Strategies.
"But it can persuade some to return, and attract other young people as
well. Instead of worrying about "brain drain" we need to think in
terms of 'brain churn'."
Rebecca Ryan, president of Next Generation Consulting, said that nearly
1,200 "deliberators" who have considered moving to Vermont are mostly women
(57 percent); single; and professionals but that work isn't necessarily
the most important thing to them.
"These are educated, talented and mobile people," she said.
"The can choose where they want to live and work, and the community they
live in is as important as their job opportunities when deciding where to go."
She noted that 94 percent of those surveyed said that "a
community where I can afford to live, work, and play," was an important
factor in choosing their home.
"But only 33 percent of those living in the state thought that Vermont offers
this," Quinn said. "Clearly, the issue of affordability --
wages versus the costs of housing, taxes, and living --- is one that must
be addressed.
Other recommendations included:
Strengthening the
ties between education and business to help develop a workforce whose skills
match employers' needs and to inform workers of opportunities.
Actively targeting
young people outside Vermont
with messages about jobs, housing, educational opportunities, and other
activities.
Marketing the state
to potential entrepreneurs: "Current generational research strongly
underscores the idea that young people see themselves as an 'economy
of one'," the report said.
The Department of Economic Development will fully evaluate the findings
and have an ongoing conversation with stakeholders before determining what its
next steps are.
"There are real barriers, but there are real opportunities here
as well," Quinn said. "Now that we have real data and concrete
recommendations based on that data, we have a roadmap. We can do this."
To read the full report, visit the Department of Economic
Developments website:
http://www.thinkvermont.com/publications/
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