Workforce Central
130 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsJoin NAWB President/CEO, Ron Painter as he interviews public and private sector leaders in workforce development, education, business and economic development on key workforce issues and investment strategies to help America compete globally.
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Episodes
E129: Meet Brad Turner-Little, CEO of NAWB
November 30, 2023 17:00 - 27 minutes - 22.3 MBTune in for this special episode as Mike Fazio, Co-President of Workforce180 and Metrix Learning, interviews Brad Turner-Little, the new CEO of NAWB. Brad talks about his career journey and outlines his vision for NAWB.
E128: Mental Health in the Workplace: How Workforce Boards Can Support Wellness at Work
May 22, 2023 22:34 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBJohn R. Blosnich, Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for LGBTQ+ Health Equity at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at USC, joins the program to discuss the impact of mental health in the workplace. Discover the impact of the pandemic on workers’ mental health and the life disruptions that can lead to suicidal ideation. John also reveals why workforce professionals often come in contact with individuals who may be experiencing a life crisis and how to best support job ...
E127: The Employment Consequences of Robots
April 25, 2023 20:49 - 34 minutes - 21.7 MBJay Dixon, an economist for Statistics Canada, joins the program to discuss the research that his organization has conducted about robots and the impact of robots on various industries. Jay reveals three major takeaways from the study and the impact of robots on middle-skill jobs. Discover the correlation between robot adoption and worker shortages in different countries.
E126: Google Career Certificates: Providing Job Training in Fast Growing Fields
March 09, 2023 18:55 - 26 minutes - 16.3 MBThis episode features a conversation with Janice Fidalgo, Product Marketing Manager for Grow with Google, as she provides an overview of the tools and resources available to help job seekers grow their skills. Discover some of the career certificates available through Grow with Google and their partnership with NAWB. You’ll also learn about how the career certificates can help employers identify top talent.
E125: Quiet Quitting and Workplace Mental Health
January 31, 2023 14:38 - 27 minutes - 38.2 MBAuthor and consultant Oreste D'Aversa joins the program to discuss the phenomenon of "quiet quitting" and the impact that it has on the workforce. Oreste reveals the definition of quiet quitting and some of the reasons behind it. Discover the importance of communication between employees and employers, and how employers can address quiet quitting if it is occurring in their organization. You'll also hear about the importance of mental wellness in the workplace and learn a meditation exercise...
E124: The Economy and Youth Labor Force Participation: With Economist Dr. Paul Harrington
October 12, 2022 13:34 - 33 minutes - 21.6 MBDr. Paul Harrington, Professor, and Director of the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University, returns to the program to provide an updated look at the economy and the labor market. Paul discusses the shift of the regional labor markets, the impact of remote work and the changing dynamics of labor relationships. Discover labor participation rates among youth.
E123: Preparing Justice Involved Individuals for Successful Reentry and Living Wage Employment
August 08, 2022 14:48 - 22 minutes - 14.7 MBArti Finn, Co-Founder of American Prison Data Systems (APDS), joins the program to discuss the work that her organization does to promote free and ethical education options for incarcerated learners. Discover some of the biggest challenges in the US around preparing people for employment and a successful transition out of incarceration. Arti also reveals why this should be an issue of focus for workforce boards and how to more intentionally engage this population.
E122: Maximizing Impact with the American Rescue Plan
July 15, 2022 15:24 - 30 minutes - 18.9 MBThis episode features an interview with Walter Simmons, CEO of Employ Prince George's and Kyle Marinelli, Manager of Government Relations and Policy for NAWB, as they discuss what workforce boards need to know about the American Recovery Plan Act, or ARPA. You’ll hear details about an exciting new Workforce Program Training Guide, created in partnership between NAWB, the Prince George's County Workforce Development Board and Employ Prince George's (EPG) outlining American Rescue Plan Act pol...
E121: Meeting Unprecedented Challenges: Ron Painter on the Importance of Workforce Boards
June 20, 2022 17:36 - 35 minutes - 26.5 MBThis episode was originally recorded on the WorkforceRx Podcast by Futuro Health, a podcast where Futuro Health CEO Van Ton-Quinlivan interviews future-focused leaders in education, workforce and healthcare to explore new innovations and approaches. Ron Painter joins the program to discuss the vital role that workforce boards play in advancing economic opportunity, and the importance of bringing together key stakeholders including housing, transportation and community-based organizations. Ro...
E120: Preparing Diverse Learners to Pursue In-Demand Cloud Roles
May 11, 2022 16:00 - 21 minutes - 15.2 MBKevin Kelly, Director of AWS Education Programs at Amazon Web Services, joins the program to discuss the importance of cloud computing for the future of work and the work that AWS Education Programs does to help prepare diverse learners to pursue in-demand cloud roles. Kevin reveals details about a recent global digital skills study and the growing need for technical knowledge due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
E119: The Power of Data: Empowering Workforce Systems to Achieve Equitable Economic Advance for All
March 24, 2022 14:52 - 34 minutes - 23 MBThis episode features an interview with Eshwar Eswaran, Director, JFFLabs LEAD (Leading Economic Advancement through Data). Eshwar discusses the work that JFF is doing to find new and innovative ways to lead workforce and education systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all, through data and data-driven solutions. He also reveals how timely, accurate and reliable data can help workforce boards increase their impact and responsiveness.
E118: A Look at the Labor Market: With Economist Dr. Paul Harrington
March 10, 2022 16:58 - 36 minutes - 24.5 MBDr. Paul Harrington, Professor, and Director of the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University, returns to the program to discuss the current state of the labor market. Dr. Harrington shares insights about the impact of the Great Resignation, youth participation in the labor market, as well as his thoughts about immigration and education.
E117: AI, The Great Resignation, and Supporting Transitioning Veterans
February 09, 2022 19:48 - 32 minutes - 21.7 MBKamal Ahluwalia, president of Eightfold.ai, joins the program to provide an overview of his organization, share his thoughts about the Great Resignation, as well as his work with veterans and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Discover the promise of AI and the importance of creating a succession plan for every individual in an organization. Kamal also discusses what organizations need to think about when working with transitioning veterans.
E116: Driving Results: Making the Most of Federal Relief Funding
November 15, 2021 14:41 - 28 minutes - 25.3 MBAndi Phillips, Founder and Managing Partner, the Community Outcomes Fund at Maycomb Capital, joins the program to discuss her thoughts about how workforce boards and local governments can make the most of record stimulus dollars. Discover how to access flexible funding and how to use outcome-based contracts to align spending with the mandated reporting requirements from Treasury.
E115: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on Investing in U.S Workforce Development and Training
August 30, 2021 17:16 - 15 minutes - 12.9 MBCongressman Raja Krishnamoorthi joins the program to share his thoughts about the importance of investing in skill development for the U.S. labor force. Congressman Krishnamoorthi reveals how being a small business owner has shaped his thoughts about workforce and talent development and the challenges that the U.S. is facing when it comes to skilling and reskilling the workforce. He also reveals the role that immigration needs to play in the U.S. labor market.
E114: How Coursera is Transforming Lives Through Learning
July 07, 2021 11:44 - 27 minutes - 24.3 MBCoursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda joins the program to discuss the important role that his company has played during the pandemic, and how online learning can help increase the accessibility of education and decrease inequality. Discover some of the biggest learning and education trends that have occurred over the past year and the changing nature of work. Jeff also shares his thoughts on the Coursera Skills Report, which explores skill trends worldwide, helping leaders in higher education, bus...
E113: Changing the Playbook: Innovative Approaches for Skilling and Reskilling the U.S. Labor Force
June 04, 2021 16:00 - 37 minutes - 34.9 MBJason Tyszko, VP of the Center for Education and Workforce at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, joins the program to discuss the work of the Foundation, and the urgent need for skilling and reskilling the U.S. Labor Force. Jason reveals his thoughts about the need to reimagine what it looks like for the public sector to engage with the business community and discusses the Talent Finance initiative, which explores private sector-led solutions and innovations in finance to better invest...
E112: Recruiting and Hiring for Remote and Flexible Jobs
May 12, 2021 15:02 - 33 minutes - 29.6 MBWidely acclaimed workplace expert, speaker, strategist and innovator Mika Cross joins the program to discuss FlexJobs, a leader in the remote and flexible employment space for employers and job seekers. Discover what employers need to think about when onboarding remote workers, as well as how to attract a newer and wider segment of talent. Mika also reveals how the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted how employees think about work-life balance.
E111: The Unspoken Rules- with Gorick Ng
April 27, 2021 15:52 - 33 minutes - 28.9 MBGorick Ng, first-gen college student, Harvard grad, management consultant and author of The Unspoken Rules, joins the program to discuss the rules that employees aren’t taught in school, including how to navigate a new role, take ownership, manage expectations, or handle workplace politics. Discover what top performers do and don’t realize, and how these “unspoken rules” get passed down over the dinner table, or from mentee to mentor, creating an unlevel playing field, with the insiders ge...
E110: Ensuring Access to Quality Postsecondary Education
March 26, 2021 16:00 - 31 minutes - 20.5 MBMartha Kanter, CEO of College Promise and former Under Secretary of Education, and Jane Oates, President of Working Nation, and former Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration, join the program to discuss the changes that they have seen regarding education and workforce. Martha and Jane share their thoughts about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning on education, and the efforts that are underway to make work-based learning readily available to st...
E109: Career Navigation Technology- Trends, Challenges and Opportunities
March 09, 2021 17:00 - 29 minutes - 22.1 MBClare Bertrand, Director at JFFLabs. joins the program to discuss the importance of career navigation technology in 2021 and beyond. Clare shares her thoughts about how career development technology fits into virtual service design, and what workforce boards should think about when investigating different tech tools. Discover where investments are being made and a gap in the market when it comes to serving underrepresented communities.
E108: The 100 Questions Initiative: Ensuring a Future that Benefits Everyone
February 22, 2021 16:37 - 40 minutes - 26.1 MBIn this episode, you’ll learn about the 100 Questions Initiative, which seeks to map the world’s 100 most pressing high impact questions that could be answered if relevant data sets were leveraged in a responsible manner. Discover why the future of work is a critical focus for the 100 Questions Initiative, and how to create a common understanding of current and future workforce challenges.
E107: COVID-19 Compliance Requirements- What Employers Need to Know
February 10, 2021 15:15 - 27 minutes - 17.6 MBSusan Gross Sholinsky, a labor and employment attorney at Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. and Vice Chair of the firm’s National Employment, Labor & Workforce Management Steering Committee, joins the program to discuss COVID-19 compliance requirements for employers. Discover resources to stay informed about changing laws and what employers need to think about when it comes to liability. You’ll also hear about whether employers can require a mandatory vaccine policy and the approach that the new ...
E106: Foresight Thinking, Emerging Trends, and the Pandemic
January 06, 2021 17:00 - 24 minutes - 16.1 MBRichard Lum, CEO of Vision Foresight Strategy, LLC, returns to the program to discuss why a global pandemic is something that could be anticipated, but not necessarily predicted, and what it takes to do quality foresight and strategy work. Discover the key building blocks to foresight work, the industries that are most likely to continue to be impacting by the pandemic, and why workforce boards are well positioned for the future.
E105: Supporting Job Seeker Performance and Growth
December 14, 2020 20:21 - 40 minutes - 25.4 MBMichael Simpson, CEO of PAIRIN, joins the program to discuss the work that his company is doing to make everyone’s journey personally relevant and equitable. Discover how PAIRIN’s science-based technology and personalized approach to client services ensures not only the success of clients’ programs, but also the success of people in their communities who benefit most from skills-based development and career services. Michael also shares his thoughts about a recent report that PAIRIN released...
E104: Grow with Google: Helping Jobseekers Kickstart Their Careers in High-Demand Fields
December 08, 2020 02:38 - 31 minutes - 21.1 MBChristian Michael, Program Manager for Grow with Google, joins the program to discuss the work that Google is doing to create opportunities for nontraditional talent to kickstart their careers in high demand fields, including IT. Christian reveals why Google created their own career certificates and shares why Google is looking to partner with local workforce boards across the United States.
E103: Workforce Trends, Challenges, and Best Practices
December 01, 2020 16:03 - 28 minutes - 18.3 MBMark Douglass, President of Equus Workforce Solutions, joins the program to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and labor needs. Discover some of the skills that will be increasingly important in the new workplace, and what employers are looking for when evaluating talent. Mark also shares his thoughts on why the workforce system is uniquely qualified to assist with upskilling and reskilling the labor force of today and the future.
E102: Apprenticeships in the Age of COVID-19- With Eric Seleznow, Senior Advisor at JFF
November 11, 2020 17:00 - 30 minutes - 20 MBEric Seleznow, Senior Advisor at JFF and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for the US Department of Labor, joins the program to discuss trends in apprenticeships, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on apprenticeship programs. Discover the various benefits of apprenticeships for employers and job seekers, and the need for strategic partnerships.
E101: Elevating America's Workforce- With Congresswoman Elise Stefanik
September 09, 2020 19:52 - 17 minutes - 11.7 MBCongresswoman Elise Stefanik from New York's 21st District in the House of Representatives, joins the program to discuss her advocacy for Fort Drum and the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has created at the U.S.- Canadian border. She also discusses Elevating America’s Workforce Act, legislation that establishes personal reemployment accounts (PRAs) to help displaced workers obtain the training and skills necessary for sustained employment.
E100: Driving From the Backseat- How Leaders Can Survive and Succeed
August 28, 2020 18:13 - 29 minutes - 19.7 MBRonnie Bryant, Founder of Ronnie L. Bryant, LLC and former CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, joins the program to share tips for how leaders can survive and succeed in tumultuous times. Discover the first questions that leaders need to ask, the characteristics of effective leaders, and the metrics by which leaders are measured.
E99: Creating a Culture of Care- Improving Equitable and Inclusive Outcomes
June 12, 2020 12:09 - 27 minutes - 22.5 MBDr. Paul David Spradley, CEO of Care Based Leadership, LLC, joins the program to discuss the work that his company does collaboratively designing specific solutions around improving organizational climate and equitable and inclusive outcomes. Discover the power of mentoring, how to engage young African-American men, and how to create a culture of care.
E98: The Economy and the Emerging Workforce- Challenges and Opportunities In the Age of COVID-19
June 01, 2020 20:24 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBDr. Paul Harrington, Professor and Director of the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University, joins the program to discuss the impact of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on young people and the emerging workforce. Dr. Harrington also shares his thoughts on the impact that the current disruption may have on the education system, and the decisions that students make regarding pursuing college and careers.
E97: Operation Next- Preparing Military Personnel for Careers in Advanced Manufacturing
May 28, 2020 18:12 - 43 minutes - 29.4 MBIn this episode, you'll learn about Operation Next, and the work that they are doing preparing military personnel careers in advanced manufacturing. Launched as a pilot at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in early 2018, Operation Next is an innovative, manufacturing-focused training and credentialing initiative. Operation Next provides a blended learning program to soldiers within their last six months of service, but while still on active duty, resulting in the individual earning one or more nation...
E96: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Workforce System and the Economy
May 20, 2020 14:48 - 34 minutes - 28 MBDr. Jerry Paytas, Economic Development Pracademic, Vice President of Analytics at the Fourth Economy, joins the program to share his perspective on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. economy. Discover what workforce boards need to keep in mind when it comes to economic development, and what we can learn from the response from other countries.
E95: Preparing the Pipeline of Skilled Manufacturing Talent
May 05, 2020 17:30 - 35 minutes - 29.4 MBLeo Reddy, CEO of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, joins the program to discuss the importance of a strong national industrial base and the emerging technologies that are impacting the industry. Discover the changing perception and reality about modern manufacturing and the innovation that occurring in the manufacturing sector.
E94: Struggling and Surviving in the Gig Economy
May 01, 2020 13:38 - 36 minutes - 27 MBDr. Alexandrea Ravenelle, author of Hustle and Gig: Struggling and Surviving in the Sharing Economy, joins the program to discuss the costs, benefits and social impact of freelance work and the gig economy. Discover the economic forces that have led to an increase in freelance work, and why some freelance workers do well in the gig economy while others struggle. Dr. Ravenelle also discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gig workers.
E93: The Future of Career, Technical and Adult Education
April 27, 2020 17:30 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBScott Stump, the Assistance Secretary of Career, Technical and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education, joins the program to reveal the work that the DOE is doing to ensure that all students have the education and skills that they need to find meaningful employment. Discover the acceleration towards digital learning and the changing nature of delivering education to students. Scott also shares his thoughts about the need to move past a "one size fits all" approach to education ...
E92: Profile of a Gig Worker
April 24, 2020 18:56 - 27 minutes - 17.8 MBMusician and freelance worker Jastin Artis joins the program to discuss the challenges and opportunities of being a gig worker. Discover the skills needed to be successful in the gig economy, and lessons for workforce boards. To hear learn more about Jastin and hear his music, visit: https://www.justapuppet.com/
E91: Workforce Lessons From Long Beach, CA
February 27, 2020 16:48 - 29 minutes - 21.3 MBNick Schultz, Pacific Gateway Executive Director, joins host Ron Painter, President & CEO of NAWB, as they discuss the efforts that have been made to strengthen the workforce system in Long Beach, CA. Discover the unique opportunities that The Port of Long Beach provides to the area, the impact that automation has had on employment, and the takeaways for workforce boards.
E90: Workforce Lessons from Kansas
February 12, 2020 17:00 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBKeith Lawing, President and Chief Executive Officer at Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, Inc. joins host Ron Painter, President and CEO of NAWB, to discuss how they are preparing their workforce to meet the needs of employers. Discover the importance of industry and educational partnerships, and the mindset shift that is needed for the workforce system to evolve.
E89: Workforce Executive Boot Camp- Developing New Workforce Leaders
February 03, 2020 16:34 - 26 minutes - 23.3 MBBob Lanter, Executive Director of the California Workforce Association, joins the program to discuss the Workforce Executive Boot Camp. Discover who the boot camp is for and what it entails. Bob also reveals the important partnership between workforce leaders and the education system and innovative ways to energize board members. to Learn more, visit https://forum.nawb.org/forum/bootcamp
E88: The Role of Workforce Boards in Disaster Preparedness
December 13, 2019 20:13 - 15 minutes - 11.1 MBKimberly L Bodine, Executive Director for CareerSource Gulf Coast, joins the program to discuss the vital role that workforce boards play in preparing for and responding to disasters. She also discusses the upcoming event, Beacon of Resiliency: Setting the Standard for Workforce Development Boards’ Disaster Response, which will be held January 8-9, 2020 in Panama City Beach, FL. To learn more, visit https://members.nawb.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1303553
E87: The National Young Farmers Coalition- Creating a Strong Future for U.S. Agriculture
December 05, 2019 20:29 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBSanaz Arjomand, Federal Policy Director at the National Young Farmer’s Coalition, joins the program to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing young farmers. She reveals the policy priorities for the Young Farmer’s Coalition and the various industries that are impacted by the agriculture industry.
E86: Making Tech Careers Accessible For All
November 14, 2019 01:58 - 30 minutes - 24.5 MBMark Plunkett, Senior Director of Business Development at CompTIA, joins the program to discuss the current state of careers in technology, the need for talent, and what employers are looking for. He also reveals what workforce boards need to think about when it comes to helping to attract individuals into tech careers, and how to make tech jobs accessible to all. If you’re interested in a discussion with Mark and the CompTIA Custom Training team, you can contact him at [email protected]...
E85: Helping Careers Take Flight- Building a Regional Talent Pipeline
October 02, 2019 16:41 - 32 minutes - 18.6 MBThis episode features an interview with Sheree Utash, President of WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, and Vice President of Workforce Development for WSU. Sheree discusses the creation of the National Center for Aviation Training, and the need for the technical education system to prepare students for high demand jobs. She also reveals the education and workforce challenges and opportunities in her region, and what workforce boards need to think about when it comes to skill devel...
E84: Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne on Trade, The Workforce, and The Economy- Part 2
September 19, 2019 01:12 - 23 minutes - 19.1 MBThis episode features an interview with Earl Anthony Wayne, An accomplished diplomat and executive, Ambassador Wayne has served in a wide variety of positions during his career, including as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe. In this episode, he discusses where the U.S. ranks when it comes to preparing for the workforce challeng...
E83: Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne on Trade, The Workforce, and The Economy- Part 1
September 06, 2019 02:30 - 20 minutes - 9.62 MBThis episode features an interview with Earl Anthony Wayne, An accomplished diplomat and executive, Ambassador Wayne has served in a wide variety of positions during his career, including as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe. In this episode, he discusses the impact of trade agreements on the economy, the need for employers to p...
E82: Building Learning-Based Pathways to Economic Opportunity
August 19, 2019 20:08 - 51 minutes - 23.9 MBMary Alice McCarthy, Director of the Center on Education and Skills with the Education Policy program at New America, joins the program to discuss the current state of apprenticeships and work-based learning. Discover the work that New America is doing to advance youth apprenticeships on a national level. Mary Alice reveals why apprenticeships are increasing in popularity with parents and students, and the potential drawbacks of short-term credentialing programs.
E81: UpSkill America- An Employer-Led Movement To Expand Opportunity for America's Workers
July 23, 2019 18:42 - 29 minutes - 13.8 MBJamie Fall, Director of UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute, joins the program to discuss the importance of employers investing in their employees, and the benefits of those investments for both employees and employers. He reveals some of the workforce and economic trends that have motivated employers to take the lead when it comes to investing in their employees, as well as the increasing range of investments being made by employers.
E80: Newport Sunshine Initiative- Revitalizing Small-Town America
July 10, 2019 19:25 - 23 minutes - 11.2 MBJay Lucas, CEO and Chairman of the Lucas Group, joins the program to discuss the Newport Sunshine Initiative and the work that is being done to build a stronger economic base and enhance opportunity in Newport, He also discusses some of the particular challenges and opportunities facing small towns in the U.S. and lessons learned from his experiences so far. To learn more, visit https://www.jaylucas.us/ and to get Jay's book, visit https://www.amazon.com/American-Sunshine-Rays-Hope-Opportun...