In 2006, at the request of community leaders and member investors, the Partnership charged a group of business and civic leaders to identify and address workforce development issues affecting the region. Over the span of the year, the group was responsible for the development of a system that would produce a competitive regional workforce program that encourages upward mobility and greater employability for workers, results in more workers wanting to build their careers in Greater Des Moines, and aligns workforce and economic development goals. In September 2006, the group commissioned a report that recommended a series of short- and long-term strategies for creating a competitive and unified workforce system.
Some strategies implemented include the establishment of a public-private partnership in the form of a Regional Workforce Intermediary Board and several sector-specific boards. These boards will oversee the implementation of strategies such as:
- the development of specialized training programs and more robust applicant/employer matching tools
- the development of a collaborative learning center to facilitate workforce training and education
- increased emphasis on meaningful internship opportunities
- development of a variety of marketing and communications tool
You can download the group's full report, "Pathways to Prosperity," here.
Employers: Visit our jobs & resume database to post your available jobs and internships, and browse resumes from those seeking employment in Greater Des Moines. You can also refer to additional Partnership resources in the Living Here and "Do More" sections, where
we keep all the information and cool tools for learning more about life and living in Greater Des Moines.
Job-seekers: Be sure to check out our Employment section, with tools for finding jobs and internships with area employers.
UPDATE (November, 2007): The Central Iowa Workforce System (CIWS) has made significant progress. The group has defined the roles of the
Attraction & Retention Council, the proposed Sector Boards, strategic intermediaries and technical team. Additionally, three pilot sector boards have been
created in the IT, financial services and construction industries. Here are the details (all documents in PDF format):
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