Northeast Wisconsin Technical College recently hosted local K-12 educators and industry partners for an annual roundtable discussion focused on strengthening the workforce for Marinette and Menominee County communities. Educators and industry professionals contributed to a productive conversation on the importance of equipping K-12 students with the tools they need to achieve their career aspirations.
Marinette Campus Dean, Cindy Bailey shares, “Meeting students early and helping them explore higher education and career opportunities sets a strong foundation for their success. Our initiatives will allow us to dive deeper into student interests so we can better serve them as they move towards their goals.”
To further support these efforts, NWTC has established a taskforce of K-12 and industry partners within the community to strengthen career readiness among the future workforce. The task force recently joined forces with an independent educational research firm to gather insights from local school districts, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of students’ career interests and needs to best put them on that pathway. Currently, participating school districts will be covering the costs of the survey. However, there are plans to place requests to business and industry partners in the near future to explore the possibility of sharing a portion of the expense.
Much of the discussion also emphasized the importance of employers nurturing early career interest and preparing graduates for workforce success. One of the event’s guest speakers, Kate Owens, Director of Industry and Engagement with Bay Area Workforce Development Board said “Our data shows that Wisconsin – and especially our local counties - has motivated workers. As employers, we need to keep asking ourselves how can we foster and support this early interest in our high schools and set students up for a successful transition into the workplace.”
“Between 2018 and 2023, the percentage of individuals aged 16-19 participating in the workforce varied significantly across counties, the state, and the nation:
- Marinette County: 62.2%
- Oconto County: 53.7%
- Shawano County: 49.8%
- Menominee County: 10.9%
- Statewide (Wisconsin): 52.7%
- Nationally (United States): 38.8%
Statewide, Wisconsin maintains approximately 0.6 jobs for every individual of working age and ability for youth entering the workforce” (Data provided by Kate Owens, Director of Industry and Engagement—Bay Area Workforce Development Board).
This event is an invaluable opportunity for K-12 educators, higher education, and industry partners to align on how we can develop a stronger future workforce. Collaboration like this is key to our role as a technical college, ensuring we remain responsive to community needs,” said Bailey.
To learn more about training opportunities, how your organization can partner with the college, and more, visit nwtc.edu/marinette or contact Campus Dean Cindy Bailey at 715-735-9361.
