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Governor Pat McCrory Proposes Higher Investment for High-Demand Occupations
News Release:
Hickory, NC Governor Pat McCrory has proposed reinvesting $16.8 million in savings generated by community colleges into additional funding for the state's 58 community colleges to train workers in high-demand fields such as health sciences, engineering, construction, manufacturing, transportation, chemical and biotechnology fields.
"This is all about putting North Carolinians in good-paying jobs as soon as possible," Governor McCrory said. "More importantly, the decisions on how to invest the funds will be made at the local level to directly connect the training to the area economy."
The governor made the announcement at Catawba Valley Community College near Hickory. He was joined by Dr. Scott Ralls, North Carolina Community College System president and Catawba Valley president Dr. Garrett Hinshaw.
"Reinvesting these funds provides increased support to colleges in areas where they need it most," said Ralls. "This initiative will allow our colleges to be more responsive by providing increased flexibility to address the needs of business and industry by funding high-cost, credential-focused programs that are integral to ensuring North Carolina has a skilled workforce."
Under the governor's "Closing the Skills Gap" initiative, each community college will decide how it will invest the money, such as updating equipment or providing salary supplements to faculty. The decision will be based on the needs of the communities and the employers they serve.
The occupations targeted by the community colleges provide local employment opportunities and are in growing industries that pay higher wages. Local employment and skills demand input collected by the community colleges was correlated with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"This is the type of community and employer responsiveness prospective job creators like to see when they are looking to establish or relocate facilities," said Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker. "This initiative will make North Carolina more competitive because it shows our community colleges are nimble when it comes to providing the skill set business need to grow and prosper."
Another distinction of the "Closing the Skills" program is it will focus on jobs that do not necessarily require graduate or undergraduate degrees. Recent research by the Brookings Institution found that half of the occupations in high-demand STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) don't require a four-year degree and pay an average $53,000 annual wage. This wage is higher than the average wage in nearly every county served by the state's 58 community colleges.
Funding for "Closing the Gap" will not come from additional taxes. The $16.8 million price tag will come from the $18 million in savings the community college system generated by streamlining their developmental (remedial) education programs to ensure students are taking only the remedial programs courses they need. For example, a student who needs instructional help with fractions can take a concentrated four-week module instead of the traditional full semester of developmental math. This more diagnostic approach will put the student on his or her career or university path quicker and lower the cost of education for them and their families.
Essentially, the "Closing the Skills Gap" initiative will re-direct resources previously used to reteach high school level courses and invest them into providing North Carolina workers with the skills to become nurses, radiography technicians, machinists, electricians or be qualified for an array of other well-paying jobs.
The "Closing the Skills Gap" plan is in line with the call by the North Carolina Economic Development Board in its recently released Jobs Plan to enhance the state's career and technical education programs.
Targeted Occupations Covered Under "Closing the Skills Gap" Initiative
Health Sciences
• Nurses
• Dental Hygienists
• Dental Assistants
• Dental Laboratory Technicians
• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant
• Radiation Therapists
• Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology/Technician
• Nuclear Medicine Technologists
• Radiologic Technologists
•Surgical Technologists
Biological, Chemical, and Biotechnology
• Biological Technicians
• Chemical Technicians
• Chemical Plant and System Operators
• Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
Manufacturing, Production, and Installation
• Machinists and Precision Metal Workers
• Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technician
• Medical Equipment Repairers
• Industrial Machine Mechanics
• Machine Maintenance Workers
• Electrical Power-Line Transmission Installers
• Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
•Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians
•Civil Engineering Technicians
•Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians
•Electro-Mechanical Technicians
•Industrial Engineering Technicians
•Mechanical Engineering Technicians
•Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technicians
•Architectural and Civil Drafters
•Electrical and Electronics Drafters
•Mechanical Drafters
•Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
•Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
•Electricians
•Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technicians
•Construction Equipment Operators and Operating Engineers
Transportation
• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
• Air Transportation
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
• Automotive Body and Related Repairers
• Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
• Avionics Technicians
• Bus and Truck Mechanics
• Diesel Engine Specialists
• Boat Mechanics and Service Technicians
• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics
Contact: Crystal Feldman
govpress@nc.gov
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Hickory, NC Governor Pat McCrory has proposed reinvesting $16.8 million in savings generated by community colleges into additional funding for the state's 58 community colleges to train workers in high-demand fields such as health sciences, engineering, construction, manufacturing, transportation, chemical and biotechnology fields.
"This is all about putting North Carolinians in good-paying jobs as soon as possible," Governor McCrory said. "More importantly, the decisions on how to invest the funds will be made at the local level to directly connect the training to the area economy."
The governor made the announcement at Catawba Valley Community College near Hickory. He was joined by Dr. Scott Ralls, North Carolina Community College System president and Catawba Valley president Dr. Garrett Hinshaw.
"Reinvesting these funds provides increased support to colleges in areas where they need it most," said Ralls. "This initiative will allow our colleges to be more responsive by providing increased flexibility to address the needs of business and industry by funding high-cost, credential-focused programs that are integral to ensuring North Carolina has a skilled workforce."
Under the governor's "Closing the Skills Gap" initiative, each community college will decide how it will invest the money, such as updating equipment or providing salary supplements to faculty. The decision will be based on the needs of the communities and the employers they serve.
The occupations targeted by the community colleges provide local employment opportunities and are in growing industries that pay higher wages. Local employment and skills demand input collected by the community colleges was correlated with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"This is the type of community and employer responsiveness prospective job creators like to see when they are looking to establish or relocate facilities," said Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker. "This initiative will make North Carolina more competitive because it shows our community colleges are nimble when it comes to providing the skill set business need to grow and prosper."
Another distinction of the "Closing the Skills" program is it will focus on jobs that do not necessarily require graduate or undergraduate degrees. Recent research by the Brookings Institution found that half of the occupations in high-demand STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) don't require a four-year degree and pay an average $53,000 annual wage. This wage is higher than the average wage in nearly every county served by the state's 58 community colleges.
Funding for "Closing the Gap" will not come from additional taxes. The $16.8 million price tag will come from the $18 million in savings the community college system generated by streamlining their developmental (remedial) education programs to ensure students are taking only the remedial programs courses they need. For example, a student who needs instructional help with fractions can take a concentrated four-week module instead of the traditional full semester of developmental math. This more diagnostic approach will put the student on his or her career or university path quicker and lower the cost of education for them and their families.
Essentially, the "Closing the Skills Gap" initiative will re-direct resources previously used to reteach high school level courses and invest them into providing North Carolina workers with the skills to become nurses, radiography technicians, machinists, electricians or be qualified for an array of other well-paying jobs.
The "Closing the Skills Gap" plan is in line with the call by the North Carolina Economic Development Board in its recently released Jobs Plan to enhance the state's career and technical education programs.
Targeted Occupations Covered Under "Closing the Skills Gap" Initiative
Health Sciences
• Nurses
• Dental Hygienists
• Dental Assistants
• Dental Laboratory Technicians
• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant
• Radiation Therapists
• Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology/Technician
• Nuclear Medicine Technologists
• Radiologic Technologists
•Surgical Technologists
Biological, Chemical, and Biotechnology
• Biological Technicians
• Chemical Technicians
• Chemical Plant and System Operators
• Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
Manufacturing, Production, and Installation
• Machinists and Precision Metal Workers
• Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technician
• Medical Equipment Repairers
• Industrial Machine Mechanics
• Machine Maintenance Workers
• Electrical Power-Line Transmission Installers
• Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
•Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians
•Civil Engineering Technicians
•Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians
•Electro-Mechanical Technicians
•Industrial Engineering Technicians
•Mechanical Engineering Technicians
•Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technicians
•Architectural and Civil Drafters
•Electrical and Electronics Drafters
•Mechanical Drafters
•Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
•Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
•Electricians
•Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technicians
•Construction Equipment Operators and Operating Engineers
Transportation
• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
• Air Transportation
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
• Automotive Body and Related Repairers
• Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
• Avionics Technicians
• Bus and Truck Mechanics
• Diesel Engine Specialists
• Boat Mechanics and Service Technicians
• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics
Estimated College Funding Under "Closing the Skills Gap" Initiative
Contact: Crystal Feldman
govpress@nc.gov
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