Workforce Development: What’s In It for Industry?

Workforce development is a concept that gets a lot of attention today because it implies jobs, employment, sustainable wages and a host of other positive results. It also evokes an image of people sitting in training classes or working in trade apprenticeship programs created through partnerships formed by trade councils, union groups, the government, charitable organizations and private corporations. However, there are also programs funded by private businesses and utilities that include early childhood education programs, elementary school funding for special projects, adult literacy programs and other factors that appear to be completely unrelated to the core mission of the businesses.