October 27, 2023

Stark Employers and Schools Create a Winning Game Plan to Engage Students

It’s the end of the fourth quarter, the score is 7-10 to the opposition. Team Stark County makes a drive down the center and lands at the 10-yard line – set to make the touchdown and take the win! But NO! The game, riddled with rough play and injuries, claims another player, and our team has nobody left in reserves. What could have been is lost due to the shortage. The opposition pushes us back, and the clock runs out.

The Shortage Challenge

In Stark County, and across the country, the workforce landscape is much like a close football game. Many employers feel as though they are short on players and time as they navigate the formidable demands of business –whether that be manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, distribution and logistics, IT, or a plethora of other sectors.

The Future of Work Full Report (August 2023) provides the latest stats on the workforce landscape of Stark and Tuscarawas Counties. The top three causes of these shortages are an aging workforce, a lack of young people entering the workforce, and decreasing competitiveness resulting from slow adoption of technology. With two of the top reasons centering on shortfalls in workers, area employers must run interference to regain the home field advantage.

What can employers do about the sparse numbers of millennials and the retirement risk exacerbating these issues? The Future of Work Survey (included in full report linked above) conducted this spring found that “Eighty-one percent of respondents indicated they would be interested in starting a relationship with an educational institution, mostly with high school and college-level students.”

The Long-Term Response

For the past year, Stark Education Partnership (SEP) has responded directly to workforce shortfalls. SEP assists area employers in forging relationships with schools¹ that allow the businesses to connect with students who will be the “blitz” players in the development of their long-term workforce. With over 40 Stark County employers and community organizations engaging students in career-connected learning (CCL) through our Stark Career Pathway Initiative, Stark County is a leader in CCL.

Join the Team

While employers are rallying to score the last touchdown of this game, SEP is very thankful that these companies have the foresight to build a playbook for workforce development that also supports Stark County youth in career planning. Don’t fumble the ball! If your company or organization would like to develop your team with the youngest, brightest players, please reach out to SEP. Let’s carry our Stark County community to a victory by supporting our youth – and improving our economic infrastructure!

Stark Education Partnership extends special thanks to these valued business and community partners!

1 Current Career Pathway Initiative school/district partners: Alliance City Schools (2), Canton City Schools (5), Fairless Local Schools (2), Heritage Christian School, Louisville City Schools (2), Marlington Local Schools (2), Osnaburg Local Schools (2), Sandy Valley Local Schools (2), Tuslaw Local Schools (2)

Stark Education Partnership (SEP) provides a much needed support system to local workforce and education entities by acting as a CATALYST for implementing new programs, works as a CONNECTOR of people and organizations, and is viewed as a trusted CORNERSTONE organization in StarkCounty.