A skilled and educated workforce is the cornerstone of a strong, healthy economy.
Empowering North Carolinians through excellent education is essential to securing a skilled talent pipeline and achieving a competitive, diverse, and world-class workforce. In today’s competitive global marketplace, where North Carolina competes for top talent with economies around the world, we must do more to strengthen our workforce and fill the talent pool.
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Challenges and Solutions
North Carolina needs to ensure that two million North Carolinians hold a post-secondary degree or credential of value by 2030. Our business and education communities must join forces to ensure that students are getting the right degrees and certifications.
NC Chamber Foundation Institute for Workforce Competitiveness
Responding to the urgent workforce needs of our state’s employers and focusing on North Carolina’s future talent supply, the NC Chamber Foundation launched the business-driven Institute for Workforce Competitiveness in March 2022. North Carolina and the nation face workforce challenges, changes, and opportunities. The states that successfully address these issues will be best positioned for economic competitiveness.
Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Academy
To supply the training needed for in-demand jobs, the NC Chamber Foundation launched the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Academy in 2019, which is an employer-led, demand, and data-driven program based on supply chain principles. Our business community’s leadership and engagement in the TPM Academy are essential for solving the workforce shortage, building a skilled talent pipeline, empowering North Carolinians with rewarding careers, and attracting companies to invest in our great state. In 2023, the NC Chamber Foundation launched a landmark partnership with the NC Center on the Workforce for Health utilizing TPM principles to tackle the state’s health care workforce shortage.
NC Chamber Coalition on Child Care
North Carolina’s employers have identified child care as a critical factor in our state’s workforce challenges. Without access to affordable, safe child care, a parent cannot go to work. The NC Chamber Coalition on Child Care is working to identify and advance funding structures, policy reforms, and innovations that address the growing workforce demands from the business community.
The Agenda
- View our 2023 Legislative Agenda to learn how the NC Chamber will advocate for education and workforce development this legislative session.
- Learn how the NC Chamber championed these issues in the 2021-2022 edition of How They Voted.
- Explore our Education & Workforce Conference, which brings together leaders in education, business, government, and nonprofit to discuss collaborative approaches to workforce development and education attainment and alignment.
Join the Effort
Ensure your business benefits from the NC Chamber’s work to strengthen talent supply and child care access across North Carolina: Explore membership opportunities with the NC Chamber today.