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Alaska's Future Workforce Conference December 11, 2000

Nov. 20, 2000
No. 01-24

Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer will host a day-long conference to discuss Alaska's future workforce December 11, 2000, at the Anchorage Downtown Marriott Hotel. Some of Alaska's largest employers will participate in a panel discussion of their future workforce needs, and training providers will present their vision for responding to future training needs. The conference will also provide a forum to hear from business consortia in key industries, and to review a new "Blueprint" for Vocational and Technical Education in Alaska.

"One of the more impressive accomplishments in the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council's work over the last five years has been in the building of private sector and government partnerships," said Lt. Governor Ulmer. "This conference, which focuses on vocational training, is a good example of how the private and public sectors are working together on all aspects of workforce development."

The Alaska Human Resources Investment Council (AHRIC), of which the Lt. Governor is a member, serves as the lead state entity for workforce development. The conference is an important opportunity for interested parties to comment on the newly developed Alaska's Future Workforce Strategic Policies and Investment Blueprint, which outlines a plan for vocational and technical education in Alaska. Vocational and technical education has been identified as "a gap" in Alaska's workforce development system, and the new plan is intended to address this important need. A draft of the Blueprint is available at the Lt. Governor's web site.

The council also works with industry to help meet the demand for qualified workers and has been instrumental in developing "Business Learning Consortia" for major state industries. As a result, business consortia have formed in construction, fisheries, health care, hospitality, information technology, process industries (oil, gas, mining, and utilities) and transportation, where employers and their associations work with training providers and the government on an agenda to help build a highly skilled workforce.

The December 11th agenda includes panel discussions with supply-side training providers in Alaska, and demand-side employers in key industries. Presentations will be given by the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development on workforce trends, and from Alaska's Business Learning Consortia. Public comment on the Blueprint will be taken at the conclusion of the conference. Those interested in attending should RSVP to the AHRIC office at (907)269-7485, as seating is limited.

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