Political leaders from both parties are talking about workforce training and say it'll be a priority when the General Assembly convenes early next year.
The Legislature is hosting a series of committee meetings on the topic, the Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates are crafting competing plans and some legislators have said they want to present their own proposals in 2015.
The incoming legislative leaders also said in recent interviews that they expect a lot of discussion on the topic in the upcoming session.
Officials in Gov. Mike Beebe's workforce Cabinet, which includes the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Departments of Workforce Services, Career Education and several other related agencies, have said businesses are more likely to be drawn to states with strong workforce training programs.
Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock, said she is hosting several meetings of the Joint Performance Review Committee to examine the programs available in the state and how they communicate with two-year colleges.
Committee members this month are hearing from corrections officials about the programs they offer. They're also hearing from two-year college officials about education and training opportunities, and touring some schools later this month.
The committee will make recommendations for how to improve the programs later this year.
At a recent committee hearing, English said changes are needed.
"What we're trying to do is figure out how do we come up with a system. We've got lots of programs in the state, but we don't really have a system. And we all know that we're in some dire need of some middle-skill people in Arkansas to help fill some of the jobs that are out there that employers keep telling us they have," English told the committee, referring to jobs that require a two-year degree or some kind of certification.
Grant Tennille, the director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, said there aren't enough trained people available to fill industrial maintenance jobs. It's a category many incorrectly associate with "mops and buckets" but is instead more closely aligned with engineering and can come with a salary of about $120,000 a year, he said.
States with strong job training programs are more competitive, he said.
"Workforce availability really is the No. 1 indicator of where a company is going to locate," Tennille said.
Tennille said that many of the state's two-year schools have a "laser" focus on the needs of industry, while others may not always meet those needs.
Bill Walker, the head of the Department of Career Services, said one problem that prevents his agency from providing a well-trained workforce is that many curriculum decisions are being made at the "local level" by school districts. He said many of those decisions are based on what's popular and not what employers need.
Walker said in an interview that he is drafting legislation that would improve the programs and increase funding but declined to offer additional details.
Stacey Hall, a spokesman for the governor, said Beebe was supportive of the discussions on workforce training, and the governor's office was awaiting the committee's recommendations.
Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, who is in line to serve as the Senate president pro tempore in 2015, said workforce training is a priority.
"I think it'll be absolutely one of the larger issues that we tackle during the next session," Dismang said.
Rep. Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, who is in line to be the next speaker of the House, said it is too early to say what legislation may be drafted, but he anticipates that it will be "very well-discussed" during the upcoming session.
"I think it's a very big topic, and looking at economic development, that's one of the key drivers that we keep coming across," Gillam said.
Both gubernatorial candidates have cited workforce training as an issue in their campaigns.
Democratic candidate Mike Ross' jobs plan includes a proposal for "work ready communities," which would encourage public-private partnerships for "career and technical education and workforce training" in an area to attract businesses.
His Republican counterpart, Asa Hutchinson, has proposed introducing "Workforce Education Councils" made up of "industry, educators and economic developers" that would develop regional workforce training plans for what opportunities are available in the area.
Metro on 07/05/2014