Workforce training and development has been the top priority at the State Chamber for as long as I’ve been here. Why? Because many of you have called me and said essentially the same things:

“I have an ever-increasing number of open jobs here, and the gap between what I need and the talent pool of applicants is getting worse — not better.”

I also get calls like this: “Mike, it’s great that the State is attracting new employers to Delaware, but where are they going to get their employees?” 

In a CNBC story out yesterday, workers 45 to 60 are the most overlooked cohort of workers. Gen X workers are mid-career and make up a “consistently high percentage of the long-term unemployed. Most notably, the research (conducted from March ‘21 to May ‘21) found that hiring managers across the board considered those who are 45-years-old and above to be the worst cohort in terms of application readiness, fitness, and previous experience." Among their top concerns were a perceived: 

Reluctance among

older workers to try

new technologies

With an inability to

learn new skills

Have difficulty in working with other generations

Elevate Delaware, a new program piloted by the Delaware Department of Labor, is one possible solution. I’m also hopeful that the Delaware Workforce Development Board continues to prioritize retraining and think creatively on solutions to address this skills gap.

There is work here for the Governor and General Assembly too. If we are ever going to rebuild the middle class and help families prepare for their future, then more time and attention must be afforded to policies that offer the training needed to secure a good job with wages, benefits, and options for upward mobility. Employers need to lead this discussion so better skilled workers successfully land job opportunities waiting at the end of retraining.

Visitors are flocking to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. While jobs are available at hotels, restaurants and shops, all businesses are feeling a squeeze without enough applicants. Watch this ABC News story featuring DSCC member, The Bellmoor >

We start off a busy week on Monday with June new home sales data. Tuesday brings us the S&P Case-Shiller home price index for May, July's consumer price index, and second quarter housing vacancies. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference on Wednesday. On Thursday we will see initial jobless claims data for July and a Q2 gross domestic product estimate. We conclude the week on Friday with second quarter employment cost index data and June's personal income and consumer spending numbers.

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CNBC

Delaware Business Now

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