Workforce development is a top priority in Catawba County because it directly impacts the success of both citizens and companies. Efforts have greatly increased in recent years, with now more than a dozen locally-driven initiatives created and maintained to bolster the skills of the local workforce or better connect the next generation (grades K-12) to the jobs of today and tomorrow. One of the latest initiatives, the Manufacturing Academy, began with its first cohort of 20 "students" Monday, October 5. The Manufacturing Academy, which follows on the heels of the very successful Furniture Academy, is an industry-driven training course (12 weeks) designed by 20+ of our local manufacturers to prepare unemployed/underemployed for manufacturing positions that are in high demand by so many of you.

Another effort gaining steam - Catawba County's effort to become a Certified Work Ready Community (CWRC).

 

 

NCRC is awarded at four levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Each is an objective validation to employers anywhere in the U.S. that an individual has met or exceeded the necessary foundational skills for a percentage of the 16,000 occupations in their databases. For example, a Gold certificate verifies that an individual has the necessary skills for 93% of occupations. Many of our local companies use NCRC scores for baseline applicant screening; hiring and promotion decisions; and targeting employee training and development.

 

 

If your company already utilizes the NCRC for hiring or even if your company would recognize or recommend the workplace credential,

we would ask that you take 2 minutes and quickly sign up your company as a supporter.

 

We already have 20 employers, including Sherrill Furniture, Century Furniture, GKN, United Beverages Group, Prysmian Group, HSM and Punkerthat have expressed their support. We would appreciate your time to join this list of Catawba County workforce leaders.