Workforce Development

Workforce development encompasses a mindset and a set of activities, resources, and organizations supporting individuals and communities seeking to enhance career and educational opportunities for a sustainable future. Libraries are an integral component of this workforce development ecosystem, as centers of lifelong learning. From the young person just starting out, to a worker retraining for a new career, to an employer seeking to recruit new employees, the library is a collection of resources and interactions supporting career and education growth for the individuals in their community.

Libraries can engage in workforce development all along a continuum of investment:

• Displaying printed handouts from government support agencies: e.g., Labor, Commerce, Career & Technical Education, Department of Education, Vocational Rehabilitation
• Hosting a résumé writing or job interview workshop
• Reserving a library room for recruitment and training from an employer
• Utilizing your virtual reality equipment for job training in health care or auto mechanics
• Customize maker space equipment and activities in support of job skill acquisition
• Understand community workforce needs by attending local chamber, economic development, and related community meetings
• Hosting a job seeker fair at library in partnership with local economic development leaders and others
• Facilitating a weeks-long boot camp for entrepreneurs and company start-ups
• Coordinating job seeking counseling appointments between a Department of Labor staff member and a job seeker
• Cross-train library staff to support job seekers and career advancers, with clear avenues of referrals to organizations and informational resources
• Intentionally co-locating by sharing working space with a partner, such as Department of Labor

The above is a non-exhaustive list of possible interventions supported by libraries to the benefit of their communities. Examples of actual activities in Idaho libraries:

• The training of residents on the expert use of 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines. A skill to include on the résumé.
• Soft skills building training workshops
• Dedicated phone and video connection to Department of Labor
• Dedicated computer work station for job seekers with customized resources pre-installed
• Sponsoring coding classes that meet in the library
• A commitment to training interns, apprentices, and new-to-the-workforce staff members of professionalism in the work place
• Facilitating in-library courses on foundational Microsoft Office tool capacity building, towards a certification
• Co-locating Department of Labor staff members in the library building space

Idaho-specific workforce development resources follow below on this page.