Governor McCrory Sets Bold Workforce Training Goal At NCWorks Leadership Summit | Eastern North Carolina Now

 Greensboro, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory attended the NCWorks Education and Workforce Leadership Summit in Greensboro today and spoke about North Carolina's accomplishments and goals in the areas of education and workforce development.

 Governor McCrory invited the NCWorks Commission, NC Business Committee for Education, Economic Development Partnership of NC, NC Independent Colleges, State Board of Community Colleges, State Board of Education, and UNC Board of Governors to the discussion.

 "Over the last three years we've made a lot of progress in education and workforce development," Governor McCrory said. "We need to keep the momentum going and close the skills gap by working together to improve education at all levels to help meet the needs of businesses."


 North Carolina's skills gap means businesses can't find the skilled workers needed, but there are still people looking for work. A high school degree is no longer enough to be successful and it's not what businesses need.

 A study by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce shows that in the next several years, 67 percent of jobs in North Carolina will require credentials beyond a high school diploma. Today only 54 percent of North Carolina's workforce is able to meet that need.

 "Today I'm setting a goal for North Carolina to have 67 percent of working adults with education and training beyond high school by 2025," Governor McCrory said. "If we are going to meet this goal, we must be more efficient in how we educate and train people, and find new ways of doing business."

 We have already taken significant steps to narrow the skills gap trough the creation of NCWorks, the Close the Skills Gap initiative, and our efforts to place​ NCWorks Career Coaches from the community colleges in North Carolina high schools. Governor McCrory has also reconvened the Education Cabinet to ensure North Carolina's education system is preparing students for the 21st century workforce.

 Additionally, the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between the NC Community College System and the UNC system makes it easier for students to transfer from two-year to four-year institutions, and veterans now receive in-state tuition. The number of new registered apprentices has doubled, and year-round job training has been instituted by funding summer enrollment for community colleges.

 Governor McCrory said the Connect NC bond package, that will go before voters in March, is a way to invest in education and work towards closing the skills gap. Connect NC would dedicate more than $1.3 billion to North Carolina's university and community college systems to build and repair facilities where students are trained for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov