“Future Ready Oregon” has a goal to focus on training, workforce engagement, and the removal of the employment barriers to solving the state’s growing labor supply shortage. In fact, Governor Kate Brown has initiated the $200 million workforce development plan. Earlier last week, it was presenting at two committee meetings. It would be to seek to expand recruitment and the training in the construction, health care, and manufacturing sectors. The program is seeking to develop new job search and navigation tools to also include workforce entry for rural Oregonians, women, and communities of color.

“Future Ready Oregon” -Approved or Rejected

In February, “Future Ready Oregon” is going to come back to the committees for a work session. Thus it will be formally approving or rejecting when the lawmakers do meet in a local city.

Current Workforce Shortage was There Before the Pandemic was Present

Lawmakers were telling by Patsy Richards that Oregon’s current workforce shortage did exist before the COVID-19 pandemic. Richards is the director of the nursing workforce development company Long-Tern Careworks Trust and co-chair of the governor’s racial justice council. The Economic Recovery and Prosperity and the Labor and Business Committees found this out about the workforce shortage. Moreover, the governor’s office has estimated was a 300,000-employee gap.

There is a sizable skill gap in the construction and manufacturing sections, Richards told lawmakers. This was in regard to the aging workforce. Also, there is healthcare worker burnout which has meant there are fewer healthcare providers. Moreover, she did say cultural barriers, plus a lack of access to training and education resources. In addition, the childcare needs, have, in fact, kept women. Also, rural Oregonians and the people of color who are out of the workforce might otherwise do engage.

Seventy-five percent of Oregon’s workforce is going to be composed of millennial employees as the baby boomers do retire. In fact, Richards has estimated that by 2030. This is as the baby boomers do retire in comparison to only 30% today.

“There is a revolution right now in which our workforce is undergoing. Plus there is an immediate response that is required. However, it must be an innovative response,” Richards said. “Also, to do that, we will simplify our approach. It is through education and training that will lead to employment.”