| WICHITA (November 10, 2021) — The Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas (WA) is the Local Workforce Development Board serving the Wichita region and manages Federal funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The WA released its biannual training report and there are currently 830 persons enrolled in education and supported by over $2.6 million in skills training funds from eight different projects that operate from the Workforce Centers in South Central Kansas. Many of these people in education and training were impacted by lay-offs from the Boeing 737 production pause, or from job loss due to COVID. The economic disruption has left many in the Wichita area seeking new employment opportunities. Education and skills training can open up multiple career options for workers that have been laid off, or anyone interested in changing jobs. A large number of open jobs require some form of training, and there are several short term education programs that can lead directly to employment. The recent “Get Trained Get Paid” campaign initiated in 2020 as part of a regional economic recovery strategy, highlighted the availability of funding to support education and skills training. Many individuals took advantage of training opportunities and are currently enrolled in classes. The biannual Training Report summarizes the number of people in education and skills training, the occupation and employment sectors of the training, the education providers and variety of funds that are being leveraged by the WA. Key findings in the Fall 2021 Training Report include: - Currently, 830 individuals are enrolled in training programs with local institutions
- It is anticipated more than 300 individuals will complete education and skills training by the end of 2022
- The employment sector with most active training participants is Advanced Manufacturing/Aerospace (254 individuals)
- The number of participants being trained in the Data and IT sector is on the rise
- Enrollment in Registered Apprenticeship programs was is growing (245 individuals)
The WA invested in training projects for the current year with multiple education partners in the region. The schools with the highest enrollments are: - WSU Tech- $2,153,238
- Wichita State University- $315,215
- Butler Community College- $113,259
Access the full training report HERE “The region has a number of great schools that are now preparing students and job seekers for high wage and high demand careers. The key to economic recovery, both at the individual level and for employers, is access to skilled labor. The investment being made now in education and training will be paying off for years to come” stated Keith Lawing, CEO of the Workforce Alliance. One of many individuals success stories includes Pamela. Laid off from a job paying $13.00 per hour in July of 2020, she selected the Medical Assistant Career Pathway and earned several stackable credentials giving her multiple employment options. After completing training, Pamela was hired as a Traveling CNA/CMA with at starting wage of $23.00 per hour plus benefits. For more information on education and skills training opportunities in South Central Kansas, please inquire in person at any Workforce Center of South Central Kansas location, including Wichita, El Dorado, Wellington, or Ark City; or call 316-771-6800 or 877-509-6757; or visit workforce-ks.com. |