This content is sponsored by the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation.
In a region where companies are constantly competing for skilled workers, Montgomery County leans heavily on one of its biggest advantages, which is its ability to develop talent locally.
County officials, educators and workforce leaders say a network of public schools, colleges, universities and workforce programs has created a pipeline designed to prepare students and workers for jobs.
That pipeline stretches from early education to career placement.
“In the world that we live in today, the number one concern of any company is whether we can give them the workforce they need tomorrow and for the next decade,” said Jared Smith, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, a nonprofit that works to accelerate the county’s business development in key industry sectors.
“The wonderful story about Montgomery County is that one in three people over the age of 25 have advanced degrees,” Smith said. “That is an advantage we have like nobody else in the country.”
For businesses considering where to expand or relocate, workforce quality often tops the list of factors.
An educated workforce
Companies consistently point to Montgomery County鈥檚 highly educated workforce as one of the main reasons they choose to operate there.
Maintaining that reputation requires adjustment as industries evolve.
“One of the most important things is that degree programs are evolving and developing,” said Dr. Anne Khademian, executive director of the Universities at Shady Grove, a partner campus of nine Maryland public universities.
Students who successfully complete their coursework at the USG campus graduate with a degree from one of its partner universities.
It’s a unique approach that allows USG to offer accessible pathways to more than 80 upper-level undergraduate, graduate and professional degree and certificate programs.
“There’s always an effort to stay current and to stay on top of things with degree and certification programs, but a lot of it is deep partnerships with employers,” said Khademian. “We listen to what employers are saying and what skills they need, and we adapt what we do in the classroom to accommodate that.”
Montgomery County鈥檚 economic development strategy focuses on aligning training programs with industries expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
To make that alignment work, employers are brought directly into the process of designing training programs.
How companies connect with students
Business leaders provide feedback to colleges and workforce development organizations about the skills they need employees to have when they enter the workforce.
That input helps shape curriculum, certification programs and hands-on training opportunities so students can step into jobs immediately after graduating.
“I don’t believe that employment and education need to be so separate,” said Dr. Deidre Price, senior vice president for academic affairs and college provost at Montgomery College, a top-ranked community college in Montgomery County with campuses in Takoma Park/Silver Spring, Rockville and Germantown.
Workforce development leaders say collaboration is critical.
Industries that rely on specialized technical skills can struggle to find workers if training programs fall behind technological changes.
“As the world evolves, education will need to continue to evolve,” said Price. “We know that it is the best possible experience for students when they go from an educational environment into the workplace.鈥�
Uniting job seekers with employers
Some local organizations focus on bridging gaps between employers and job seekers.
One of those groups is WorkSource Montgomery, a nonprofit that provides local job seekers with comprehensive employment and training services.
For employers, it offers a robust set of business services and programs designed to help meet talent needs.
“Something that we really focus heavily on is working with our partners in education, making sure students learn professional skills that make the difference in growing and thriving in their career,” said Anthony Featherstone, executive director of WorkSource Montgomery.
Workforce programs increasingly emphasize 鈥渦pskilling鈥� and 鈥渞eskilling鈥� – helping workers gain new abilities or transition into different industries.
Those programs are particularly important for adults already in the workforce who need to adapt to new technologies or shifting job markets.
“We have a community workforce network that includes more than 190 partners,” said Featherstone. “We and all of our partners promote lifelong learning, because that is the pathway to career advancement.”
In a global economy where talent often determines where companies choose to locate, maintaining a strong workforce pipeline can be a decisive advantage.
For Montgomery County, leaders say the goal is simple.
That goal is to ensure that companies can find the skilled workers they need and that residents can access the careers being created.
“This economy keeps changing, our workforce keeps changing and we need to keep changing,” Smith said. “We are adapting, and I think that’s incredibly important.”
