High Country Times

North Carolina's workforce development board NCWorks Commission's latest strategy is supportive of Gov. Roy Cooper's NC Job Ready initiative.

The strategy, known as the Unified State Plan, was released in February and highlights the development of the state's workforce strategy over the next four years. 

The plan is supportive of the NC Job Ready initiative. The Job Ready initiative is a workforce initiative proposed by Gov. Roy Cooper, who built the initiative on three core principles: to help North Carolinians get the skills and education needed to fill the growing wall of jobs coming to the state; to help employers stay relevant when supplying their industry needs; and to apply local innovations to statewide matters.

The United State Plan also denotes that job growth in the state may require training received past the high school level. A goal made into a state law that was pioneered by nonprofit myFutureNC is for 2 million residents in the state to have a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030. The Unified State Plan spotlights ways to overcome the struggles to attaining credentials, which includes the Finish Line Grants program.

“Thanks to the collaboration of numerous partners, this Unified State Plan provides an overview of all the state’s workforce initiatives, pointing to how they are currently connected and how they can be integrated further, to promote North Carolina’s economic prosperity,” NCWorks Commission Chairman Tom Rabon said in a release. “The plan illustrates how the NCWorks system will continue implementing the NC Job Ready initiative, by connecting workers with career services and training while providing employers a pipeline of skilled workers they need to grow and succeed."

The NCWorks Commission is comprised of 33 members from businesses, educators, state workforce agencies and community leaders. It advises on strategies and policies for businesses in North Carolina to complete on a global level.