♪
>> SUPPORT FOR "NEVADA WEEK" IS
PROVIDED BY SENATOR WILLIAM H.
HERNSTADT CASHMAN EQUIPMENT,
DE CASTROVERDE LAW GROUP, VALLEY
ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, AND
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING SPONSORS.
>> WELCOME TO "NEVADA WEEK."
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I AM CASEY SMITH.
NEVADA POSTED RECORD HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION RATES LAST YEAR
TOPPING 80 PERCENT.
IRONICALLY YOUNG LABOR MARKET
PARTICIPATION DROPPED NEVADA
HIGH SCHOOL GRADS AREN'T GETTING
OUR STATE'S MOST IN DEMAND JOBS
WHICH COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
GOVERNOR SANDOVAL'S POSITION
SHIFTS OUR FOCUS FROM HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATES TO WORK READY
GRADUATES?
WHAT DOES WORK READY GRAD MEAN
IN NEW NEVADA.
WORK BASED EDUCATION IS KEY.
OUR STATE ACTUALLY LAGS BEHIND
THE NATION IN LARGE SCALE
DEPLOYMENT OF RELATED PROGRAMS.
SO WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A PANEL OF
COMMUNITY AND STATE LEADERS AND
EMPLOYERS TO DISCUSS WHAT NEVADA
HAS ACCOMPLISHED, WHAT NEEDS TO
BE ACCOMPLISHED AND HOW WE
COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS TO
REALIZE THIS VISION.
JOINING US ARE MANNY LAMARRE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF WORK FORCE
INNOVATION OR OWINN.
JAIME CRUZ THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF WORK FORCE
CONNECTIONS.
VICTOR FUCHS PRESIDENT OF HELIX
ELECTRIC AND RENE CANTU
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR JAG
NEVADA JOBS FOR GRADUATES.
RENE START WITH YOU.
JOBS FOR AMERICAN GRADUATES
FOCUS.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY WORK READY
GRADUATE OR WHAT SHOULD THEY
HAVE THAT A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE
DIDN'T HAVE 10, 15 YEARS AGO?
>> IN ESSENCE A WORK READY
GRADUATE WOULD HAVE A BASELINE
OF LITERACY AND NUMERACY WE
EXPECT IN SOMEONE WITH A HIGH
SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
I THINK IN OUR CURRENT ECONOMY
WE ALSO NEED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
POSSESS A SET OF SOFT SKILLS AND
BY THAT I MEAN AN ABILITY TO GET
ALONG WITH OTHER, THE ABILITY TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS, THE KNOWLEDGE
AND KIND OF CULTURAL AWARENESS
THAT THEY NEED TO BE THERE ON
TIME AND PRESENTABLE AND READY
TO WORK.
I THINK IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF
WE CAN WORK MORE TOWARDS HAVING
BASIC SET OF TECHNICAL SKILLS IN
YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY FINISH HIGH
SCHOOL, THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A
LAUNCH PAD TO A BETTER CAREER.
MOST IMPORTANTLY ONE OF THE
AREAS THAT IS LACKING IN OUR
YOUTH THAT WOULD BE ESSENTIAL
FOR A WORK READY YOUTH IS CAREER
LITERACY.
OFTEN THE TERM IF YOU CAN'T SEE
IT YOU CAN'T BE IT COMES TO
MIND.
PART OF WHAT JAG NEVADA DOES
WITH THE STUDENTS WE WORK WITH
IS TO TRY TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF
THE KINDS OF CAREER OPTIONS THAT
ARE OUT THERE SO THAT WE CAN
HELP MEET, YOU KNOW, NEVADA'S
NEEDS FOR EMPLOYEES IN KEY
INDUSTRIES.
>> COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER.
ANY ONE ELSE LIKE TO ADD TO
THAT?
>> NO, I THINK RENE SUMMED IT UP
WELL WHICH IS COMBINATION OF
TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL
SKILLS IN PARTICULARLY ALIGNED
WITH THE INDUSTRIES WITHIN THEIR
REGIONS WHERE THERE ARE CONCRETE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT COMES DOWN TO
CAREER READINESS.
IT IS NOT JUST THE DIPLOMA OR
DEGREE FOR THE DEGREE'S SAKE BUT
IT IS THE APPLICATION OF THE
EDUCATION THAT YOU ARE LEARNING.
THAT REALLY IS A COMBINATION OF
THE WORK BASED LEARNING AND WORK
READY, CAREER READY GRADUATE.
>> MANNY WE ARE INVESTING A LOT
INTO THE GRADUATING WORK FORCE
BUT THE WORK READY GRADUATE AGE
GROUP 16 TO 24 WHICH MAKES SENSE
HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND.
WHY DOES THE STATE SEE THIS AGE
GROUP AS SO CRITICAL?
>> GOOD QUESTION.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LABOR MARKET
DATA A FEW STATISTICS POINT OUT
THAT ARE REALLY CRUCIAL.
FROM 2005 TO 2016 IN PARTICULAR
WE SAW A DROP IN LABOR FORCE
PARTICIPATION RATE OF YOUNG
ADULTS 16 TO 24 YEARS OLD.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?
>> THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH OR
THEORIES WITH THREE REASONS.
ONE REASON IS THE BELIEF IS THAT
WE HAVE PUSHED AND ADVOCATED FOR
GOING DIRECTLY OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL IT IS A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE
MOST PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE GOING
DIRECTLY INTO A FOUR-YEAR.
TWO AND WE DID FOCUS GROUPS TWO
YEARS AGO.
WE DID A SURVEY, A REPORT ON
BARRIERS YOUNG ADULTS FACING
TRAINING AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
ONE THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES, AND THIS GOES
BACK TO WHAT RENEE MENTIONED
THEY DON'T SEE, THEY DON'T SEE
IT THEY CAN'T BE IT.
TWO IS THAT A QUOTE STANDS OUT
TO ME FROM VARIOUS STUDENTS.
HOW CAN WE GET EXPERIENCE IF
EVERY JOB REQUIRES EXPERIENCE?
LESS STUDENTS ARE WORKING
THEREFORE IT EXACERBATES THE GAP
THAT THEY ENTER INTO THE WORK
FORCE AND THE FINAL PIECE WOULD
BE THEY ARE ACTUALLY NOT AWARE
OF ALL OF THE TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY CAN GET
AN EDUCATION SUCH AS AN
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WHERE
STUDENTS GET PAID WORK BASED
LEARNING WITH NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS THEY ARE
NOT AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES.
THE FINAL THING IS STIGMA
ATTACHED TO IF YOU DON'T GO
DIRECTLY TO A FOUR-YEAR
INSTITUTION.
WE HEARD THAT A LOT FROM
STUDENT.
WE SEE THAT A LOT IN OUR
CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AS
CHALLENGES.
THEY END UP TO SOME EXTENT CHECK
OUT WHEN YOU PUT THE VARIABLES
TOGETHER THEY END UP CHECKING
OUT.
>> TRADITIONALLY THAT'S THE PATH
BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PATHS
IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.
WHAT KIND OF GAPS ARE WE SEEING
WHEN IT COMES TO THE OUT OF
SCHOOL YOUTH AND ARE THEY
GRADUATED OR ARE THEY STILL IN
SCHOOL?
ARE THEY OUT OF SCHOOL?
HOW DOES THAT WORK OUT FOR YOU?
>> TO BUILD ON THE ANSWER I
THINK THAT I JUST HEARD FROM
MANNY IS WHAT THESE KIDS EITHER
THE ONES THAT DROPPED OUT OF
SCHOOL OR ARE IN DANGER OF
DROPPING OUT EVEN THE ONES THAT
ARE STILL DROPPING OUT IN ORDER
TO BE WORK READY WHAT THEY ARE
MISSING IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPERIENCE WHAT HAS BEEN
DESCRIBED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LEARN ON THE JOB OR WORK BASED
EXPERIENCE.
WE WILL BE NEEDING TO CHANGE
THAT IN THE SENSE THAT I HAVE A
PERSONAL STORY.
I IMMIGRATED FROM PERU AS A
MECHANICAL ENGINEER NOBODY WOULD
GIVE ME THAT EXPERIENCE OR THAT
JOB WITHOUT THE PREVIOUS
EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
I HAD TO TAKE A JOB BEHIND THE
KITCHEN.
LITTLE BY LITTLE PROVED MY
EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF
ENGINEERING.
THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE YOUTH
HERE TO BE ABLE TO THROUGH
EMPLOYERS AND GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES WE HAVE TO CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE KIDS TO
LEARN THE SKILL SETS WE HAVE
HEARD ABOUT ON THE JOB JUST LIKE
WITH LEMONADE STANDS OR
DELIVERED NEWSPAPERS WHEN WE
WERE LITTLE.
>> WHAT SECTORS HAVE ON DEMAND
JOBS?
>> WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING A LOT
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
EMPLOYMENT TRAINING
REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND
ANALYSIS AND WE HAVE THE
INDUSTRY SECTOR COUNSELS WHICH
IS A FOCUS GROUP OF EMPLOYERS
WHERE WE VET AND RUN THE
INFORMATION BY THEM.
THE CORE INDUSTRIES WE SEE,
THERE'S A REASON WHY, TOO, BUT
ONE IS CONSTRUCTION,
MANUFACTURING, HEALTH CARE AND
EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT
SERVICES.
SO THOSE CORE INDUSTRIES, HEALTH
CARE, IT, MANUFACTURING.
MANUFACTURING IS ACTUALLY IN
NORTHERN NEVADA WITH SOME OF THE
BIGGER COMPANIES GROWING
RAPIDLY.
IN SOUTHERN NEVADA YOU SEE A LOT
AROUND CONSTRUCTION, HEALTH CARE
AS WELL.
IT IS JUST ACROSS THE BOARD AS
WELL AS THE EDUCATION AND
GOVERNMENT.
THOSE ARE THE CORE INDUSTRIES.
THE REASON WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
WE GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO
THE PUBLIC, THERE'S TWO REASONS
ONE IS THAT WE SEE IN NEVADA THE
POPULATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHART OF THE
16 TO 25-YEAR-OLDS AND OTHER AGE
GROUPS YOU WILL SEE THE 16 TO
25-YEAR-OLDS GROWING RAPIDLY IN
NEVADA.
WE NEED A YOUNGER WORK FORCE
THAT TAKE THEIR PLACE.
WE COULD GO INTO DETAILS ABOUT
THAT.
TWO IS THE CHANGING TECHNOLOGY.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST
MISCONCEPTIONS PARTICULARLY OF
YOUNG ADULTS IS THEY DON'T
REALIZE TECHNOLOGY IS IN EVERY
FIELD.
YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY
BEING IN CONSTRUCTION BUT IT IS
IN TERMS OF SENSORS, AI AND SO
ON, MANUFACTURING, ROBOTICS.
SO HEALTH CARE A LOT OF TIMES.
IT IS NOT JUST DOCTORS AND
NURSES.
THAT'S IMPORTANT BUT THERE'S A
VARIETY OF OCCUPATIONS WITHIN
HEALTH CARE THAT WE WANT TO GET
THE INFORMATION OUT.
AS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES WE KNOW
THE JOBS LEAST LIKELY TO BE
AUTOMATED ARE THOSE JOBS THAT
ARE NOT PREDICTABLE WHERE YOU
NEED HUMAN TO HUMAN
INTERACTIONS.
>> THE MINING INDUSTRY, RECENTLY
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE
PAPER I BELIEVE IT WAS BARRETT
GOLD THAT WENT TO DRIVERLESS
TRUCKS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT JOBS IN
RURAL NEVADA YOU THINK ABOUT
PEOPLE GOING INTO MINING OR
RELATED FIELD, GOVERNMENT THAT
KIND OF THING THERE ARE MORE
LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT A JOB IN
THE MINING INDUSTRY THAT PAYS
20, $25 AN HOUR NOW BECAUSE OF
AI AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY THAT'S
GOING TO BE -- PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO BE REPLACED BY MACHINES.
THEN WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK
AT WAYS OF PROVIDING MORE
TRAINING IN A PRAGMATIC AND
EFFICIENT FASHION TO GET YOUNG
PEOPLE THE SKILLS THEY NEED, NOT
NECESSARILY A BACCALAUREATE BUT
GET THEM THE SKILLS AS QUICKLY
AND LOW A COST AS POSSIBLE TO
ENTER INTO THE WORK FORCE.
>> POSSIBLY INTO THE PLACE OF
EMPLOYMENT.
YOU HAVE A GREAT THING CALLED
HELIX UNIVERSITY.
>> WE TAKE PEOPLE STRAIGHT OUT
OF SCHOOL OR ANY UNSKILLED LABOR
AND PUT THEM IN A BOOT CAMP, AND
WE TAKE 15 STUDENTS AT A TIME
AND HAVE A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS
RATE PUTTING OUT IN THE FIELD
WITH READY SKILLS SET OF WORK.
ONE THING WE ARE VERY PROUD OF
IS OUR ACTUALLY SUCCESS RATE ON
FEMALES IS EVEN HIGHER THAN
MALES.
SO A LOT OF FEMALES ARE WORKING
IN THE FIELD, WHICH IF YOU TAKE
40 YEARS AGO, 30 YEARS AGO THAT
WAS PROBABLY IN CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY WAS NOT COMMON TYPE OF
OCCURRENCE.
SO WHEN YOU MENTION THE FACT
THAT MINING INDUSTRY, WELL THERE
IS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND
HIGH DEMAND.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT THOSE JOBS
ELIMINATED COULD BE REFOCUSED ON
CONSTRUCTION.
VERY SIMILAR TYPE OF SKILL SET
AND ALL WE NEED TO DO IS GIVE
THEM SOME TECHNICAL SKILLS THAT
ELECTRICAL WORK, CERTAIN SKILLS
COULD BE ATTAINED IN TWO, THREE
WEEKS JUST BASED ON AN EFFORT.
LIKE MANNY SAID BEING AN
IMMIGRANT YOU WENT OUT AND DID
SOMETHING ELSE BEFORE -- YOU
CANNOT JUST SIT THERE AND GET
YOUR MINDSET UP THIS IS WHAT I
WANT TO DO AND I WON'T DO
ANYTHING ELSE, THEREFORE YOU ARE
NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE.
>> THEY ARE NOT ONLY LEARNING,
THEY ARE GETTING PAID TO DO IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE SPENT OUT OF HELIX OUT OF OUR
OWN FUNDS WE PAY THEM TO LEARN
ON THE JOB.
WE HAVE A TRAINING FACILITY NOW
THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AND WE
HAVE PEOPLE THERE FULL-TIME
PROVIDING ALL KINDS OF CLASSES.
>> I WANT TO ASK CAN THE STATE
HELP OUT CAN THEY GET THE WORK
BASED PROGRAMS THE STUDENTS CAN
MAKE MONEY WHILE THEY ARE DOING
IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE ARE WORKING IN COLLABORATION
WITH CORE PARTNERS PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE TO SCALE WORK BASED
LEARNING.
SOME ARE EXCITED ABOUT ONE WE
ARE PART OF THE NATIONAL
GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION POLICY
ACADEMY ON WORK-BASED LEARNING.
THIS IS A NATIONAL STATE
INITIATIVE.
WE ARE PARTNERS WITH NEVADA
WORKS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
TO SCALE CREATE WORK-BASED
LEARNING.
WE ARE PART OF THE INITIATIVE
OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION WITH PARTNERS AROUND
LIFE WORKS INITIATIVE WHERE WE
ARE PROVIDING FUNDING FOR
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCALE WORKED
LEARNING.
WE CREATED A WEBSITE CALLED
lifeworksnv.org.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM YOUNG ADULTS
AS RELATES TO THE WORK BASED
EARNING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
INTERNSHIPS ON THE JOB TRAINING
AND APPRENTICESHIPS.
THOSE ARE THE CORE COMPONENT OF
THE WORK BASED JOURNEY.
WE CREATED THIS SITE
lifeworksnv.org WHERE THEY CAN
LOOK FOR IT BY ZIP CODE AND IT
IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AS WELL.
>> SO THEY CAN GO BY ZIP CODE
ALSO WHAT KIND OF JOBS THEY
WANT, THE TYPE OF PAY SCALE,
THINGS LIKE THAT?
>> THERE'S A TON OF RESOURCES.
IT IS NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS BUT
EDUCATORS AND BUSINESSES WHERE
THEY CAN POST IT.
STUDENTS HAVE 30, 50,000, 100
OPPORTUNITIES AT DIFFERENT
SITES.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PUTTING IT
ALL INTO ONE.
WE HAVE INITIATIVES OUT OF OUR
OFFICE TO SUPPORT
APPRENTICESHIPS FOR EXAMPLE IF
YOU ARE PURSUING COLLEGE CREDIT,
WE RECENTLY CONTINUOUSLY DO
WORK-BASED LEARNING WE HAVE
PROPOSALS WHERE WE SUPPORT
BUSINESSES AND EDUCATION IN
STUDENTS THAT WANTS TO CREATE
WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM.
>> THE WEBSITE IS INTRIGUING.
IF YOU COULD GIVE US THE ADDRESS
ONE MORE TIME.
>> lifeworksnv.org
L-I-F-E-W-O-R-K-S-N-V-.ORG.
IT IS A STATEWIDE WORK-BASED
LEARNING HUB THAT CONNECTS
STUDENTS EDUCATORS AND
BUSINESSES TO WORK BASE.
>> HOW CAN SOMEONE LIKE VICTOR
GET ON THE WEBSITE AND FOR
INSTANCE HAVE HELIX ON THERE SO
PEOPLE WOULD BE DRAWN TO HIM?
>> GOOD POINT.
I BELIEVE BEFORE I LEFT THEY
POSTED THEIR WORK BASED JOURNEY
ON --
>> OUR PERSON JUST POSTED THAT
TODAY AND GOT REGISTERED.
>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
>> YOU GO ON THE SITE ON THE
BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND SIDE IT SAYS
POST WORK-BASED LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES.
TAKES TWO SECONDS YOU POST IT ON
THERE.
THE PROBLEM IT IS SOLVING IS
THAT STUDENTS NOW ARE AWARE OF
THESE COMPANIES.
WHEN WE DO OUTREACH TO YOUNG
ADULTS THEY WILL KNOW LEARN MORE
ABOUT THOSE BUSINESSES AND
ORGANIZATIONS WHERE TO GO.
>> THERE ARE YOUNG ADULTS IN
NORTHERN NEVADA THE JAG E2E
PROGRAM.
>> E2E STANDS FOR EDUCATION TO
EMPLOYMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE JAG NEVADA
PROGRAM PROVIDE IS A 12 MONTH
FOLLOW UP AFTER GRADUATION.
TRADITIONALLY THE 12 MONTH
FOLLOW UP IN THE ORIGINAL MODEL
WAS TO GET A YOUNG PERSON EITHER
A JOB OR INTO POST SECONDARY
EDUCATION PURSUIT.
WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT PEOPLE
WOULD USE THAT FOLLOW UP PERIOD
AS KIND OF A CHECK BOX.
OKAY I GOT THE KID A JOB AT
CARL'S JR.
WE STARTED THE FOLLOW UP AND
STARTED TO THINK ABOUT GETTING
YOUNG PEOPLE TO THEIR HIGHEST
OUTCOME.
CARL'S JR. UNLESS YOU ARE GOING
INTO MANAGEMENT OR THAT'S YOUR
DESIRE.
I DON'T MEAN TO SINGLE THEM OUT.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE KEY
INDUSTRIES LOOK AT IT AND HEALTH
CARE.
LET'S TAKE A YOUNG PERSON AND
PROVIDE THE INITIAL STEPS INTO
THE CAREER.
AS AN EXAMPLE WITH VICTOR AND
HELIX ELECTRIC OUR E TO E TEAM
IS WORKING WITH TEAM MEMBERS TO
GET KIDS IN FOLLOW UP NOW OR I
SHOULD SAY YOUTH IN FOLLOW UP
WITH JAG.
>> IN NORTHERN NEVADA.
>> IN NORTHERN NEVADA AND
SOUTHERN NEVADA.
WE HAVE TEAMS IN NORTHERN AND
SOUTHERN.
WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH TESLA
WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE INTERVIEW FOR
JOBS 92 PERCENT HIRING RATE AND
WE HELP THEM RELOCATE FROM NORTH
LAS VEGAS TO SPARKS NEVADA BEGIN
WORK WITH HELP FROM THE FUNDING
PARTNERS.
>> WORK BASED PROGRAMS HOW HAVE
YOU COORDINATED ALL OF THIS?
>> I THINK BEFORE I ANSWER THAT
QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE
FOR ONE SECOND AND MENTION THAT
WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP
AND MANNY MENTIONED WHAT MANNY
REFERRED TO THE SILVER TSUNAMI
COMING WITH RETIREMENT IT IS
GOING TO AFFECT A LOT MORE THAN
A FEW INDUSTRIES.
THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE
GOVERNMENT JOBS THAT WE HAVE IN
THE STATE AND ALL OF THE
MUNICIPALITIES ALL OF THOSE
POSITIONS WILL HAVE TO BE
REPLACED.
PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES COMING
UP THAT'S WHERE WORK-BASED
LEARNING IS SO IMPORTANT.
WORK-BASED CONNECTIONS TAKES THE
LEAD IN COORDINATING THE ONE
STOP DELIVERY SYSTEM UNDER THE
WORK FORCE INNOVATION AND
OPPORTUNITY ACT.
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
COMING TO NEVADA AND
SPECIFICALLY SOUTHERN NEVADA TO
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, THE LOCAL
BOARD WE REPRESENT IS CALLED
UPON BY THAT LEGISLATION TO TAKE
THE LEAD ROLE.
>> HOW DO YOU ACCESS THAT?
>> THE EASIEST WAY IS DOING TO
ANY OF OUR ONE STOP CENTERS.
THEY ARE LISTED AT
NVCAREERCENTER.ORG.
NOW EVEN IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO
WE HAVE MADE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE
BY GETTING CLOSER INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ARE LOCATED AT LOCAL
LIBRARIES NOW IN THE CITIES OF
LAS VEGAS IN BOULDER CITY.
>> MAY I ADD QUICKLY ONE OF THE
THINGS WE ARE DOING ON THE
STATESIDE IS PUTTING THAT
INFORMATION ON THE
lifeworksnv.org SITE TO HELP
STUDENTS YOUNG ADULTS AND THE
COMMUNITY TO BE AWARE OF IT.
ONE QUICK THING I WILL ADD
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST
MISCONCEPTIONS THAT IS OUT THERE
THAT ALL OF THESE BEING CREATED
THE BIGGEST GAP IN THE MIDDLE
SKILLS AREA.
THEY ARE JOBS THAT REQUIRE MORE
THAN A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION BUT
LESS THAN A FOUR-YEAR.
THEY ALSO PAY WELL.
SO YOU ASKED EARLIER, TOO WHAT
DO YOU THINK SOME OF THE GAPS
ARE LACK OF AWARENESS AND ON A
SOAPBOX SHOW MANY OF THE JOBS
CREATED REQUIRE YOU TO CONTINUE
EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL BUT
MAY NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE A
FOUR-YEAR.
THEY ALSO PAY WELL.
TECHNOLOGY CHANGES SO FAST BY
THE TIME YOU ARE DONE THERE'S A
NEW UPGRADE TO THE SYSTEM PER
SE.
WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO GET THAT
INFORMATION, THE NUANCE OUT
THERE ABOUT THESE MIDDLE SKILLS
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MATH
THAT STUDENTS CAN PURSUE.
AS THEY HAVE SAID BEFORE, HOW
CAN THEY GET EXPERIENCE IF EVERY
JOB THEY APPLY TO REQUIRES
EXPERIENCE?
WE ARE GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BUILD THOSE EXPERIENCES.
>> SO THE -- YOU MENTIONED ABOUT
HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO RELOCATE
TO NORTHERN NEVADA.
NORTHERN NEVADA IS LACKING A
SKILLED LABOR FORCE EVEN MORE
THAN DOWN HERE SOUTH.
AND I THINK YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT
AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S
HELP FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY
RELOCATE THERE.
THEY THINK IT IS A BIG STRUGGLE
FOR THEM TO GET UP TO RENO AND
DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I THINK ONE OF THE ACTIONS WOULD
BE IS MAKING AWARE THAT THERE IS
A WAY -- THERE'S A TOOL FOR THEM
AND HELP FOR THEM TO GET UP
THERE.
WE HAVE AN OFFICE UP IN NORTHERN
NEVADA AND IN NEED OF SKILLED
LABOR FORCE.
>> YOU ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH
JAG.
>> A COUPLE OF KEY POINTS.
I THINK VICTOR IS ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT THE SYSTEM THAT IS IN
PLACE THROUGH WIOA AND OTHER
RESOURCES IS ESSENTIAL.
IF A YOUNG PERSON IS NOT GOING
TO COLLEGE AND NOT DOING A FAFSA
HOUR PHILOSOPHY IS THEY NEED TO
BE ENROLLING IN A WIOA PROGRAM.
IT IS THE FAFSA FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO ARE NOT GOING TO COLLEGE.
THEY CAN ACCESS TRAINING.
THE KEY IS WORKING AND GOING TO
SCHOOL AND ALSO REMOVING THE
STIGMA ABOUT MIDDLE SKILLS JOBS.
>> MIDDLE SKILLS JOBS CAN BE --
GIVE US GOOD EXAMPLES AND
POSSIBLE SALARIES.
>> YES.
QUITE A FEW, ACTUALLY THAT COULD
JUMP OUT.
TECHNICIANS, RIGHT, AND SO YOU
REFERENCE, RENE WAS REFERENCING
THE PARTNERSHIP, MANY
MANUFACTURING TECHNICIANS AND
CERTIFICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
MANUFACTURING TECHNICIANS ONE.
THAT'S A MIDDLE SKILL JOB.
YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE
TECHNOLOGY RELATED JOBS THOSE
ARE MIDDLE SKILL JOBS.
THE MIDDLE SKILL JOBS ARE
ACTUALLY --
>> DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE
ELECTRICAL.
>> THAT'S A LONG-TERM CAREER.
>> ALL OF THESE ARE PATHWAYS OF
LONG-TERM CAREERS.
THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOL JOBS ARE OF
EVERY SINGLE INDUSTRY.
THEY REQUIRE MORE THAN
EDUCATION.
YOU CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION
WHERE YOU COULD AGAIN BE WORKING
WHILE YOU ARE PURSUING THAT
EDUCATION.
THEY ARE IN EVERY INDUSTRY AND
THEY ARE GREAT PATHWAYS TO, YOU
KNOW, SUSTAINABLE WAGES WHETHER
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT 40,
$60,000 JOBS.
>> MORE THAN THAT.
WE HAVE TREMENDOUS SUCCESSES
WHERE IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OUR
ELECTRICIANS ARE BUYING A HOME
AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILY AND THEY COULD MAKE CLOSE
TO A 6 FIGURE SALARY.
PROBABLY TRADITIONALLY IT WAS GO
TO COLLEGE AND THEN YOU GET A
GOOD JOB, A CAREER TO SUPPORT
YOUR FAMILY.
TODAY SOME OF THESE SKILLED
LABOR, SKILL SET ELECTRICIANS
MAKE MORE THAN COLLEGE
GRADUATES.
>> THE MIDDLE SKILLS ARE PAYING
WELL.
>> THEY PAY BETTER OFTEN THAN A
BACCALAUREATE LEVEL TYPE CAREER.
PEOPLE GET A BALK LAUREATE OFTEN
AND END UP WORKING AS A WAITER
AT STARBUCKS IF THEY DON'T PICK
THE RIGHT MAJOR.
IT IS A COLOSSAL WASTE OF
RESOURCES.
AN EXAMPLE OF A YOUNG PERSON WHO
WENT INTO MIDDLE SKILLS JOB WITH
ONE YEAR OF TRAINING WE HAVE A
YOUNG MAN OUT OF WEST WENDOVER
WHO WENT TO ON SCHOLARSHIP AND
GOT HIS DIESEL MECHANICS LICENSE
HE IS MAKING 80,000 A YEAR 19,
20-YEARS OLD.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
WITH MIDDLE SKILLS THESE ARE
JOBS THAT WILL HELP THE ECONOMY
AND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY BE
IN POVERTY OUT OF POVERTY INTO A
CAREER THEY CAN TRANSFORM THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> IT NEEDS TO START WITH
GRASS-ROOTS.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET BACK TO
HIGH SCHOOLS, THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS
AND MAKE THESE KIDS AWARE OF
THESE TYPE OF SKILL SET AND
THESE TYPE OF CAREERS OUT THERE.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE DOING A
GOOD ENOUGH JOB TODAY MAKING
THIS HAPPEN.
>> WHAT PROGRAMS DO WE HAVE IN
HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ARE WORK
BASED?
THERE'S PLENTY -- I THINK JAG
HAS 23 PROGRAMS AND 23 DIFFERENT
HIGH SCHOOLS JUST IN SOUTHERN
NEVADA.
>> JAG HAS 55 PROGRAMS 45 HIGH
SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.
HERE IN NEVADA WE HAVE 35 IN
CLARK COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
JAG ALSO REACHES OUT TO STUDENTS
WHO HAVE MULTIPLE BARRIERS
INCLUDING LOW ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE.
THESE ARE KIDS WHO ARE YOUTH
KIDS OF PROMISE WHO ARE MORE
LIKELY TO DROP OUT.
WE ARE TARGETING A POPULATION
THAT FACES CHALLENGES BUT ALSO
HAS WHEN THEY OVERCOME THE
CHALLENGES HAVE GREATER
RESILIENCY AND ARE MORE WILLING
TO LEARN THE SOFT SKILL.
THEY WILL GRADUATE KNOWING A
BETTER SKILL SET THAN OTHERS.
>> ONE IMPORTANT COMPONENT, OUR
OFFICE HAS BEEN PUSHING ON THE
APPRENTICESHIP SIDE.
YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP NETWORK
THROUGH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR.
THE REASON IT IS IMPORTANT ON
THE STIGMA SIDE IF YOU LOOK AT
SWITZERLAND, I AM GOING TO
SWITZERLAND THIS WEEK, NEXT
WEEK, WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO
EVERY YOUNG ADULT ROTATES IN
WORK-BASED LEARNING.
IT IS NOT JUST OTHER KIDS.
WHETHER IT IS THE CEO OF A BIG
BANK OR AN ELECTRICIAN, EVERYONE
ROTATES OR A HOSPITAL, EVERY
STUDENT ROTATES.
WHAT WE HEAR FROM EMPLOYERS,
TOO, IS WE HIRE FOR HARD SKILLS
AND FIRE OR SOFT SKILLS.
THE WORK-BASED LEARNING ALLOWS
THE YOUNG ADULT TO ENGAGE.
THAT'S ONE THING WE ARE DOING IS
WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS TO
ALIGN HIGH DEMAND AND RECOGNIZE
CREDENTIALS.
OTHERWISE IF WE JUST ISOLATE IT
TO ONLY A FEW KIDS OTHER PARENTS
WON'T DO IT.
IT IS LIKE I DON'T WANT TO DO IT
IF IT IS NOT FOR MY KID.
ONE OF THE STIGMAS WE ARE
WORKING TO PUSH ON IS THAT IT IS
IN EVERY INDUSTRY SO YOU CAN DO
WORK BASED EARNING IN HEALTH
CARE, MANUFACTURING AND IT.
TWO EVERY STUDENT WE HAVE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE FOUR YEARS MASTER'S
DEGREES WHO HAVEN'T HAD
EXPERIENCE AND THEY ASK FOR A
PROMOTION ON THE SECOND DAY.
>> UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE OUT OF
TIME.
I TOLD YOU IT WOULD GO QUICK.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR
GUESTS THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT.
MANNY LAMARRE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF WORK
FORCE INNOVATION.
JAIME CRUZ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
WORKFORCE CONNECTIONS VICTOR
FUCHS PRESIDENT OF HELIX
ELECTRIC AND RENE CANTU
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JAG
NEVADA.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS HERE ON
"NEVADA WEEK" OR YOU HAVE A
TOPIC YOU WOULD LIKE US TO
EXPLORE FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
OR E-MAIL US ON THE SHOW.
I AM CASEY SMITH THANK YOU FOR
STARTING PART OF YOUR NEVADA
WEEK WITH PBS.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
