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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Van Wert, 410-732-9564

   

A press conference for the study, scheduled for today, October 22, at 2 p.m. at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council's office, will be cancelled as a result of the rescheduling of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council's board of directors meeting.
Opportunity Collaborative to Release the Baltimore Regional Talent Development Pipeline Study  
Report looks at workforce supply and demand conditions and projections for laborers of all education levels in the region 
BALTIMORE, MD (October 22, 2013) - The Opportunity Collaborative will release on Wednesday, October 23 the Baltimore Regional Talent Development Pipeline Study - a comprehensive report that establishes workforce supply and demand conditions and projections in the Baltimore region, as well as the training needed for workers of all education levels to obtain jobs in 13 industry sectors.

The study is the first step in the Opportunity Collaborative's goal of establishing a Regional Workforce Development Plan to help low-income residents in the Baltimore region gain education, skills and other capacities to connect to economic opportunities. The report will help shape the region's labor market for the next decade and will be a critical tool for trainers, employers and economic development professionals.

 "I am excited that this study is the first Opportunity Collaborative report released because it is designed to connect residents to careers, not just jobs," said Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen, co-chair of the Opportunity Collaborative. "The Opportunity Collaborative's work centers on providing equitable access to our region's strengths.  To me, a critical piece of this work is making sure our citizens are competitive in an increasingly technical marketplace."

The Opportunity Collaborative and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond will hold a luncheon to present the study's findings on October 30, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, 502 South Sharp Street, Baltimore, Md., 21201. Chris Seals, of RDA Global Business Market Research, will present the study, followed by a panel discussion of the findings. To register for the event, visit http://www.cvent.com/events/baltimore-regional-workforce-study/event-summary-ffcb3cf7e98e4d3da59e47a70eaad075.aspx.

"The study shows that the Baltimore region is primed for job growth in healthcare, information technology, shipping and other important sectors.  In order to make this positive outlook a reality, our region's workforce must remain competitive in the global marketplace.  We want employers to know that Baltimore's workers have the training and real-world experience to thrive in an increasingly technical workplace," said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. "The job growth forecasted by this study presents tremendous economic opportunity for our citizens, but only if they have access to necessary training.  This report is a road map that will help our workforce training partners provide educational choices that will translate directly to higher wages for our residents."

The 13 industry sectors identified in the Baltimore region in the study include healthcare, business services, hospitality & tourism, retail trade, education, construction, bioscience, finance & insurance, information technology, manufacturing, wholesalers, transportation & warehousing and utilities. Highlights of the study include the following:
  • The Baltimore region is expected to add more than 101,600 new jobs between 2012 and 2020.
  • Despite the Baltimore region recovering from the recession faster than the national average, the study states that it lost more than 47,500 local jobs between 2007 and 2010 and by the end of 2012, had regained only about 53 percent of the jobs lost during the recession.
  • Unemployment went from 48,600 in 2007, peaking in 2009 with 120,300 people out of work, before declining slightly to 105,000 unemployed workers in December 2012.
  • The unemployment rate in 2011 was 3.8 percent for those in the region that earned a Bachelor's degree or higher.
  • One-third of the region's workforce is comprised of individuals who either have not earned a high school diploma, or have high school as the highest attainment of education.
  • The unemployment rate for workers with a high school diploma was three times higher in 2011 than for those with a Bachelor's degree. Unemployment was five times higher in 2011 for those workers who didn't have a high school diploma than those with a Bachelor's degree.
  • The sectors that project the greatest hiring demand between 2012 and 2020 include healthcare, business services, hospitality & tourism, retail trade and education.
  • Of the 13 industry sectors, healthcare, construction, transportation & warehousing and business services were identified to offer either an established career pathway or comparatively strong opportunities for large-capacity career pathway systems.
The Baltimore Regional Talent Development Pipeline Study builds upon the city's 2010 Baltimore Workforce Investment Board Talent Development Pipeline Study, which confirmed the need for post-secondary education to fulfill future job requirements.

"The information gathered in the Baltimore Regional Talent Development Pipeline Study provides a valuable road map to help us guide our city's job seekers and future workforce in preparing for careers in our area's high growth industries." said Karen Sitnick, director of the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Employment Development. "The regional scope of the study will enable each of our metropolitan area's Workforce Investment Boards to maximize employment  opportunities  for their job seekers while working collaboratively to build a strong and talented regional workforce".

The study also is an example of how regional organizations are working together to provide workforce training and funding for such initiatives, said Linda Dworak, director of the Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative.

"The Baltimore region is fortunate to have strong industry sectors that provide a range of job opportunities.  Our challenge is providing residents with the necessary skills to fill those jobs.  This challenge is compounded by the fact that workforce training funds are increasingly scarce," Dworak said.  "This study will help all of our funding partners, in both philanthropy and government, make smart investments that create the best outcomes for our workers and employers."

The Opportunity Collaborative is the consortium established in 2012 through a $3.5 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Regional Planning grant to create a viable plan to link the region's housing, workforce development and transportation. It is coordinated and staffed by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. Consortium members include:

The City of Annapolis * Anne Arundel County * Annie E. Casey Foundation * Associated Black Charities * Baltimore City * Baltimore County * Baltimore Integration Partnership * Baltimore Metropolitan Council * Baltimore Neighborhood Collaborative * Baltimore Regional Transportation Board * Citizens Planning & Housing Association, Inc. * Baltimore Regional initiative Developing Genuine Equality (BRIDGE) * Central Maryland Transportation Alliance * Enterprise Community Partners, Greater Baltimore Committee * Innovative Housing Institute * Harford County * Howard County * Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development * Maryland Department of Planning * Maryland Department of Transportation * Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission * Morgan State University * University of Maryland National Center for Smart Growth * 1,000 Friends of Maryland

For more information on the Opportunity Collaborative and the Regional Talent Development Pipeline Study, go to http://www.opportunitycollaborative.org/ or follow the organization on Twitter @OpportunityColl.

Working to improve the quality of life in the Baltimore region.

 

The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) is the organization of the region's elected executives who are committed to identifying regional interests and developing collaborative strategies, plans and programs which will improve the quality of life and economic vitality throughout the region.

 


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 Laura Van Wert 

 Communications Officer   410-732-9564
lvanwert@baltometro.org 

 

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