Doing Business | Results From the 2022 NOVA Workforce Index; Week 2 of General Assembly; Member News; Upcoming Events

January 30, 2023

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WORKFORCE UPDATE

From a tight labor market to telework: results of the 2022 NOVA Workforce Index

Workforce issues continue to dominate our region's business discussions this year as leaders face frustrating employee recruiting, retention, and remote work challenges. Working on behalf of our members, your Chamber has made sourcing solutions to these workforce issues a priority. As part of this effort, we've developed a broad range of member tools that include the Northern Virginia Workforce Index, a longitudinal research program of regional workforce trends conducted with the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Northern Virginia Community College.

Last week we released the second report of the Workforce Index at our "Economic Outlook: The Future of Workforce" event. Dr. Anne Kress, President of the Northern Virginia Community College presented a summary of the key research findings. “The second annual Northern Virginia Workforce Index gathers the input of almost 240 business leaders in our region and presents a complex and not entirely optimistic outlook on the regional business climate and workforce pipeline. However, there are bright spots and, I think, real opportunities for innovative and effective approaches and partnerships embedded in the 2022 Workforce Index,” noted Dr. Kress in her opening remarks.

The report findings and discussion highlighted relatively easy steps that companies can take to ease their workforce challenges including workforce innovations such as adding apprenticeship as a recruitment strategy. The Greater Washington Apprentice Network intentionally brings together employers, academic institutions, public and private sectors for the purpose of expanding the model of apprenticeship. Employers gain access to best practices from organizational peers, sources of prospective apprentice candidates, support services, academic institutions, and training resources.

Some of the key findings of the report include:

71% reported that filling job openings has been more difficult in the last 12 months than in the prior year.

Employee referrals are one of the most successful hiring strategies. 43% reported that employee referral candidates are very often or nearly always hired.

Telework: 70% reported an increase in the share of their workforce eligible to telework. 67% reported an increase in the number of telework hours per week. 56% report an increase in support for remote office arrangements. 41% report an increase in the geographic area in which remote workers may reside.

There is a correlation between increased remote work flexibility and reduced employee turnover, especially among professional services firms.

49% reported employing at least one intern over the past 12 months.

15% reported recruiting through apprenticeships, a 2% increase over last year.

Seemingly contradictory: 25% reported that a candidate’s level of education to be very important or essential when making hiring decisions. However, 42% report that they are rarely or never willing to accept equivalent professional experience.

A tight labor market, high labor costs, and high inflation are making it more difficult for businesses in Northern Virginia to hire and retain talent. However, many hiring approaches that could address these challenges remain underutilized...

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NEWS YOU CAN USE

Tech & Cyber Hybrid Networking & Hiring Event

partner event

January 31st | 11AM-2PM | Capital One Hall

Build a meaningful career in Northern Virginia’s tech & cyber industry – where employers are building tech that matters. From satellites that fuel space exploration to code that keeps our

government’s data safe, you can make a difference in your local and global community through a tech career here. Network with hiring companies in the IT sector ranging from defense and aerospace to healthcare and renewable energy at this free in-person and virtual event.

Get a professional headshot done and hear from LinkedIn on how to leverage and build your profile to secure your dream job!

Greater Washington Apprentice Network

February 7th | 2-3PM | Virtual, Free

SPEAKER: Nneka M. Thompson, Digital Skills Enablement, Amazon Web Services

The Greater Washington Apprentice Network (GWAN) brings together employers, academic institutions, public and private sectors. Employers gain access to best practices from organizational peers, sources of prospective apprentice candidates, support services, academic institutions, and training resources. The GWAN meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month for an Employer Briefing.

Young Professionals Meet Up Members Only

February 7th | 4-6PM | Patsy's American, Free

Join us for the first 2023 happy hour meet-up specifically for our business community's Young Professionals.

Held at Patsy's American (at the Bar in the Back).

NOVA Chamber 101 Members Only

February 14th | 12PM | Virtual, Free

This informational networking session will teach you about opportunities for engagement across a wide array of industries and subject areas.

You'll learn:

How you can engage a broad spectrum of employees
How the Chamber's advocacy efforts and communications can support your business
The best ways for you to connect to the Chamber's base of innovative and influential member companies

and much more. This will be a great opportunity to network with other new members.

This is a virtual event and will be provided through Microsoft TEAMS.

NOVA DEI Connects Members Only

February 21st | 2-3PM | Virtual, Free

SPEAKER: Nathan Carter, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Northern Virginia Community College

The NOVA DEI Connects is an inclusive and collaborative community of members who seek to share, learn, and implement best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion in their employee culture, talent development, and employee recruiting and retention. NOVA DEI Connects welcomes all members interested in advancing their knowledge and understanding of successful DEI strategies to join us and each other in this opportunity.

Each month the network will meet via Zoom to speak with a leader who will share their DEI best practices and programs.

Northern Virginia Workforce Network

February 28th | 2-3PM | Virtual, Free

SPEAKER: Tucker Plumlee, Northern Virginia Community College, who will present findings from the Capital Digital Talent research project.

Are you interested in finding innovative solutions to our region’s workforce challenges? Then please join us for the next meeting of the NOVA Workforce Network. The NOVA Workforce Network is an inclusive and collaborative community of workforce professionals and others interested in workforce innovation. Monthly meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of each month.

Join us in January as we hear from Brooke Weddle, Partner, McKinsey & Company, who will present findings from the Capital Digital Talent research project.

Wellness in the Workforce Part 1: Mental Health's Impact

March 28th | 8:30-10:30AM | VHC Health

Receive a 10% discount when you register for both this event and Part 2, April 25th, at once

Keynote:

Elizabeth Hughes, Senior Director of Insight Region, Community Foundation

Moderator:

Ann Harbour, Director, Government Affairs Virginia, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Panelists:

Bethany Demers, Mental Wellness Specialist, Fairfax County Public Schools
Sandra Shaklan LCSW-C, Innovation Lead, Cigna Health Care
Dr. Joseph Tasosa, Chief of Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente

The mental health of our region's workforce is of the utmost importance to future growth and stability. Along with productivity and safety concerns, our region's employers are viewing mental health care as a boon to employee recruitment and retention--and ultimately the bottom line.

Join us on March 28th for Part 1 of our Wellness in the Workplace Series which will focus on mental health's impact within our business community. During this event, our Keynote, Elizabeth Hughes, Senior Director of Insight Region, Community Foundation, and our panel of experts will discuss innovations within the mental health field before providing mental health awareness and training tools employers can utilize to identify warning signs, address care concerns, and maximize employee well-being. They will also discuss the variety of outside resources such as virtual care available to a company's staff.

This can't-be-missed event is part one in a series. Wellness in the Workforce Part 2: Understanding Obesity's Impact will be held on April 25th. Attendees who sign up for both events at once will receive a 10% discount.

MEMBER ADVANTAGE

MEMBER NEWS

Commonwealth Consultants just celebrated its 20th Annual “Hike for the Kids,” which takes children who live in homeless shelters and difficult circumstances up Rattlesnake Mountain in Linden, VA past bears, deer and other marvels of nature. We have been fortunate to have served over 580 kids so far. Visit our foundation website to learn more! Learn more here.

Operation HOPE recently recognized Fulton Bank, a subsidiary of Fulton Financial Corporation, for providing nearly $1 billion in loans to low- and moderate-income homebuyers over the past seven years. Learn more here.

The American Heart Association, Greater Washington Region recently honored five outstanding local volunteer leaders because of their commitment to the organization’s mission to improve health and well-being for all. Congratulations, Bryan O. Buckley, Kristen Graves, John Harrity, Erich Sanchack and Vince Sheehy and Sheehy Auto Stores. Learn more here.

Would you like to include your member organization's news in our next Doing Business issue? Sharing news is free for all members! All you have to do it complete the form on our website found here. The deadline to submit news is Friday at 12PM prior to our Tuesday newsletter.

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Doing Business is the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce's weekly e-newsletter focused on member-relevant news, Council Series updates, and upcoming events. Each month we will feature advocacy updates, a message from our President & CEO, and member-written blog posts. Subscription sign-up and past issues may be found on our website.

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