MARIETTA, OHIO — As workforce development takes center stage in conversations across Ohio, Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) is helping ensure the Mid-Ohio Valley has a voice in the discussion and a plan for the future.
WSCO President Dr. Sarah Parker recently participated in the Heart of Opportunity Tour alongside Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel and other leaders discussing economic development and Ohio’s future workforce. Parker also joined U.S. Senator Jon Husted and local industry and education partners for a workforce roundtable at the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition focused on changing employer needs and how education and industry can better prepare people for careers in the region.
The conversations reinforce work already underway at Washington State through Workforce 30, a regional workforce study that grew out of the College’s strategic planning process. Led by Dr. Parker, the initiative expanded to examine how the Mid-Ohio Valley can work together to strengthen the region’s workforce for the coming years.
Workforce 30 brought together K-12 and career education leaders, employers, elected officials, nonprofit organizations and other community partners to better understand the region’s workforce needs and identify ways to prepare for the future.
The research revealed an encouraging outlook for Southeast Ohio. Across every major occupational group studied, total job openings are projected to exceed the net change in jobs, creating continued demand for talented, skilled workers throughout the region.
That demand becomes even more significant as the region prepares for a generational shift in its workforce. By 2040, approximately 207,000 Southeast Ohio workers currently ages 50 to 64 will be nearing retirement, opening the door for the next generation to build careers throughout the region. Workforce 30 highlights the importance of introducing young people to those possibilities early and creating clear pathways that connect education, skills and training with local careers.
Workforce 30 identified several areas for coordinated action, including better connecting individuals with careers, increasing exposure to in-demand fields and expanding Learn and Earn experiences. Washington State and its partners are already putting those recommendations into practice.
One example is the College’s InCert Academy. After identifying available capacity in its engineering labs on Fridays, WSCO worked with local superintendents and high school partners to develop a program where high school students can explore engineering and technical careers while earning industry-recognized credentials.
The model is already producing results. Students who recently completed the InCert Academy have gone directly into the workforce, continued their education at Washington State, or learned a valuable hands-on skill before entering the military.
“This is what workforce development can look like when we approach it differently,” Parker said. “Students may not know exactly what they want to do but we can give them the chance to explore, develop skills and discover what is possible while also earning credentials that have real value in the workforce.”
WSCO has also partnered with Miba to establish Experiential (L)Earning, a learn-and-earn internship program connecting students pursuing engineering pathways with paid, hands-on industry experience. Students can begin the pathway as early as age 17 through College Credit Plus and progress from introductory production experience to apprenticeships, technical engineering work and ultimately defined roles within an engineering team.
Together, the InCert Academy and partnership with Miba illustrate the workforce pipeline Washington State and its partners are working to strengthen, helping students discover careers earlier, develop skills employers need and move more seamlessly from education into employment.
For Parker, the recent conversations with state, federal, industry and education leaders also reinforce one of Workforce 30’s central conclusions: solving Southeast Ohio’s workforce challenges will require collaboration.
“We have a chance to change the narrative about what it means to live, learn and work in Southeast Ohio,” Parker said. “Anything you want to be, you can be in Southeast Ohio. There are good careers here, employers looking for talented people and partners willing to work together to prepare the next generation to build their futures here.”
As the College continues strengthening partnerships with schools and employers, the Workforce 30 research will help guide future programs, pathways and workforce initiatives designed to ensure Southeast Ohio has the talent it needs for the decades ahead.
