The Business and Industry Association of NH and NH Charitable Foundation, both in Concord, are partnering with colleges, universities, businesses and other key players in the state to facilitate efforts to increase and improve the state’s workforce pipeline.
The two organizations launched Workforce Accelerator 2025, an initiative to help more NH students and working adults earn credentials and degrees to build a pool of skilled workers for employers.
To achieve this, the BIA hired staff to help facilitate efforts among the state’s public, private and educational sectors to ensure that 65 percent of NH adults have college degrees and high-value credentials by 2025. The 65/25 initiative was developed by a group of education and business leaders, chaired by Edward MacKay, the director of the NH Division of Higher Education, and has been promoted by the Community College System of NH and endorsed by the NH Coalition for Business and Education and the NH Legislature.
While the BIA will not have any authority over the partners involved in the initiative, it will play the role of facilitator to make sure partners remain focused on the 65 by 25 goal.
“Right now, the top challenge facing employers of all sizes, in every corner of the state, is finding people with the right skills to fill existing job vacancies. Demographic changes to our state’s population mean this challenge will persist for years,” says BIA President Jim Roche.
This program is also part of the NH Charitable Foundation’s overall effort to increase youth opportunity through its 10-year, $100 million NH Tomorrow initiative.
“It’s all about the workforce right now. That’s what we’re hearing from employers. We need to strengthen the workforce pipeline in New Hampshire,” says Katie Merrow, vice president of community impact with the NH Charitable Foundation. "And strengthening opportunities for our youth is part of that."
Current Issue - April 2024