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The school buses are rolling again and so is the Chamber's Education and Business Committee.
Last spring we asked members to participate in a survey of Massachusetts businesses to provide information about the business community’s views on education, workforce and skill. The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, Associated Industries of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Business Roundtable sponsored the survey and the MassINC Polling Group, prepared the report. Thank you to those who participated from our Chamber. The results of the survey are in and we wanted share them with you. Here are some of the key findings: • Employers are struggling fill positions in their companies, in part because of fierce competition in a hot economy, and in part because candidates lack the skills needed for open jobs. • Education matters to the business climate. “Access to a talented workforce” is the single most important factor in evaluating the state’s business climate. • Employers continue to see a gap between the overall performance of schools and the job the schools are doing preparing students for the workforce. • Business leaders want to focus their advocacy on improving the applied skills taught to students, hiring better teachers, increasing hands-on and vocational/technical education, and forging business partnerships with schools. Read the full report here The Chamber along other business groups throughout the state will be using results in our engagement with the legislature on a variety of issues including education funding reform, increasing student access to in-demand industry skills, and expanding opportunities for students to earn credentials and benefit from work-based learning opportunities. The Chamber's Education and Business Committee meets next on Tuesday, September 10th at 8:30 am at the Chamber office. All are welcome. Tom O'Rourke President and CEO Comments are closed.
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