Welcome
A skilled and educated workforce is the cornerstone of a strong, healthy economy.
According to the North Carolina 2022 Employer Needs Survey, many applicants lack employability skills like dependability and work ethic. Employers also cite inadequate work experience as a hiring challenge. This data demonstrates that many North Carolina students and families are simply not adequately prepared for or informed about how to chart a successful path after graduation. When students and parents know about the opportunities for great jobs in North Carolina they are often more excited to explore them and more likely to persist through school and into a career when they understand what that pathway looks like.
We consistently hear from businesses that they need help engaging their local school system. In a survey completed by the NC Chamber in late 2022, businesses expressed a desire for a toolkit to help you engage with schools and students in your communities. We hope this K-12 Talent Pipeline Toolkit helps your organization become more involved in education in your community, ultimately connecting North Carolina students with viable career opportunities.
Getting Started
You are obviously committed to your future talent pipeline. Before you get started, we highly suggest you brainstorm the following with your internal team(s).
- Identify your talent needs.
- Determine your resources.
- Consider both short- and long-term plans, strategies, and goals.
- List out your assets.
- Establish how much time and money your business can dedicate to this effort.
Tools & Next Steps
Now that you have a better idea of where to start, we invite you to utilize the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) Navigator tool. It is a free online tool to help connect students to careers. The platform brings together members of the business, education, and workforce development communities in a space where they can post, search for, and measure work-based learning opportunities. These opportunities are experiential learning activities ranging from guest speaking roles to apprenticeships, posted by and used by educators and members of the workforce communities.
We realize the Navigator tool may not apply to your organization or you may need additional resources on how, for example, to start an apprenticeship program. The N.C. Department of Public Instruction is prepared to facilitate a direct connection to your local school system based on your specific needs. Complete the form below to begin that process.
Employer Case Studies
The following case studies showcase opportunities that may give you ideas on how to better engage students in your community and make them aware of career opportunities at your business.