Employeers needed to identify areas for job growth

Posted by on July 29, 2013

Contact: Susan Buehler/Alex Styer
215-893-4284/4293

Philadelphia Works seeks input on “High Priority Occupations”
Agency wants input from employers and educators on jobs projected to grow

Philadelphia Works is inviting employers and educators to identify occupations and job titles that are projected to grow over the next 10 years – so-called “High Priority Occupations” (HPOs).  Businesses are encouraged to view the draft 2013 HPO list and then contact Cheneta Johns at cjohns@philaworks.org or 215.963.3493 about submitting a petition to add occupations by August 1, 2013.

“We are prepared to invest millions of dollars in public training and education funds to prepare Philadelphia residents to meet the talent needs of the region’s employers,” said Philadelphia Works CEO Mark Edwards.  “This invitation is important because only those occupations that meet certain growth and wage levels will justify our investment. We urge employers to look carefully at the list and petition to add occupations that match their job pipelines and career ladders.”

Every year, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry identifies occupations in demand across Pennsylvania, as well as for each county-level workforce area. These occupations are based on projections of job growth and the aging out of older workers. These selected high priority occupations are aligned with the Commonwealth’s Industry Clusters – industries with strong competitive growth potential.

Another factor that guides selection of these specific job groups is the possibility for family-sustaining wages. Occupations that are identified become targets for investments in education and training to help residents advance their careers.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has drafted its annual list of HPOs.  For Philadelphia, there are 4 new occupations and 53 occupations that were removed compared to the 2012 list.  The new occupations are drywall & ceiling tile installers, gaming dealers, health educators and insurance underwriters.

Employers and educators can provide input and add occupations to the 2013 HPO list through a petitioning process led by Philadelphia Works, the city’s workforce investment board.  The draft 2013 HPO list, and information on the petitioning process may be found at http://www.philaworks.org/workforce-trends-data/high-priority-occupations-list.

Each local workforce board is given an opportunity to review the HPOs identified in their area and to work with employers and educators to identify occupations in the local area that may be missing.  Philadelphia Works is most interested in identifying occupations related to job pipelines and career ladders so they can invest job training and education funds appropriately.

Philadelphia Works can offer support to petitioners and asks employers and educators to contact their office as early as possible before the deadline. Petitions to add occupations may be submitted to Philadelphia Works until August 1, 2013.

Employers and educators in other counties may contact their local workforce investment boards for more information.

About Philadelphia Works

Philadelphia Works connects business to a skilled workforce and creates a system of services that helps individuals develop the skills needed to thrive in the workplace.  Philadelphia Works was created on July 1, 2012 by merging the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board and the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation to streamline the workforce development system in Philadelphia. The nonprofit organization invests funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the federal government and the City of Philadelphia, along with privately raised employment and training funds.  More information is available at: http://www.philaworks.org.