Workforce and Education
Summary
While steady progress has been made in increasing the proportion of the labor force with at least a high school diploma, 21% of Chatham County’s workforce in 2000 had not completed high school. A view of the workforce data by age group provides some useful perspective. The trends have been moving in the right direction; only 13% of the 25-35 age group as compared to 39% of the 65+ workforce are not high school graduates. The delayed achievement rate in the 18-24 year old group, 25% are not high school graduates and only 6.5% have completed a Bachelor’s degree, is a concern. Failure of the new workforce to complete high school or completing it in a timely way by traditional means threatens an expanding economy.
Policy Agenda
Raise school drop out age from 16 to 17/18
Federal housing policies need to mandate that individuals work toward self-sufficiency (people need to be encouraged to get jobs following training to work themselves out of public housing; currently, there are federal disincentives to do this)
Expand Georgia’s technical college HOPE Grant to include transportation, childcare, and full book subsidy for people in poverty
Key Results
Chatham County, Savannah Technical College, Homebuilders Association and Step Up form partnership to create a 16-week training program, the Construction Apprentice Program (CAP); County commits $140,000 in FY2007 and provides transportation for participants to and from the work sites.
St. Mary’s Community Center (neighborhood based) and two neighborhood skills centers focus on workforce development and training, based on employer needs/skills requirements.
Entry-level office operations training; entry logistics and warehousing training and
entry construction (CAP), plus GED training offered at these sites.
2006 Projected Measured Outcomes
150 residents get job skills
150 residents get jobs with career ladders
300 residents enrolled for literacy, basic skills or job skills, job counseling, support, and/or training in neighborhood skills centers
60 volunteers trained to assist adults to learn skills in neighborhood skills centers
Contacts
Cindy Landolt
Coastal Workforce Services director
(912) 351-6379
Cindy_Landolt01@SavannahGa.Gov
Melanie Smith
Enrollment and Retention Specialist
Savannah Technical College
(912) 443-5883
msmith@savannahtech.edu
