Workforce Development a High Priority for Missouri

Missouri District 12 Representative Josh Hurlbert was back in Kearney on Friday, January 29, to collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce and the business community.

I want to hear from you; what you need and what’s working or not working - Missouri District 12 Representative Josh Hurlbert

Hurlbert has been appointed to the Workforce Development Committee in the Missouri House of Representatives, and in the first few weeks of the term he has been seeking ideas on ways the state can help businesses develop and retain employees.

In the public meeting, Hurlbert listened to suggestions and ideas from Northland businesses and organizations which included the Kearney and Clay County Economic Development Councils, Platte Clay Electric Cooperative, Excelsior Springs Hospital, and Stables Kitchen.

The group shared ideas about developing skills in young people entering the workforce, how employed parents have adapted to a work from home and teach from home environment during the pandemic, promoting skilled trades as a career path to high school students, as well as discussing the effects of a $15.00 per hour national minimum wage will have on local economies.

“It’s important for me to get feedback from you that are in the trenches, and hiring and recruiting folks every day to know what we need from a workforce development prospective,” said Hurlbert. “I want to hear from you; what you need and what’s working or not working, and how the state can partner to help you out.”

Governor Mike Parson has also put a high priority on workforce development. In 2020, Missouri was #2 in the nation for new apprentice programs and Missouri has also leveraged partnerships in corporations through the One Start Program.

Parson also pledged to prioritize these areas of legislation moving forward.

“As the legislative session starts, we go back to the things that got us here today: Workforce development and infrastructure,” Parson said after his inauguration. “Every day we’re going to be finding ways to put people back into the workforce. We’re going to fund creative ways to do that and still be able to maintain the fight with this virus and be able to move Missouri forward. We’ve got a good foundation to start as 2021 gets here, and we’re going to have to keep improving.”

During the Governor’s State of the State Address last week Parson emphasized numerous job expansions and projects that exemplify the state’s increasingly competitive business climate.

Accenture Federal Services in St. Louis, Chewy Incorporated in Belton, Amazon in Republic, Kawasaki in Maryville, Boeing in St. Charles and Ford Motor Company in Claycomo were all recognized as success stories of Missouri’s workforce development programs.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story