Graduation Just the Beginning
By Steve Hendrickson, Chairman of the Governor’s Council for Workforce & Economic Development and Director of State and Local Government Relations for Boeing Co.
June 2, 2008 -- Oklahoma's competitive future depends on building an economy that offers high-paying wages — salaries that lift people out of poverty and help them achieve their American dreams. To do this, we must create not only a skilled workforce, but an inspired one.
As chairman of the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development, I meet often with our state's business owners. Aerospace, construction, manufacturing, financial services — all of them need creative employees ready to use new technologies, implement fresh ideas and demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning.
Learning can no longer have finite boundaries. The education process cannot stop when we earn that diploma or certificate. Learning will be the only constant in a knowledge-based economy.
Application Guidelines Now Available for Work Ready Communities
May 16, 2008 -- To ensure that Oklahoma offers industry the innovative talent needed to compete in a knowledge-based economy, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development launched the Certified Work Ready Communities program.
Work Ready Communities expands the state's skills assessment and certification effort currently offered to individual employees, job seekers, and employers through the WorkKeys and Career Readiness Certificate program.
Application guidelines are now available for download. 
Criteria & Application Process for Work Ready Communities
Governor's Council Hosts Youth Forum
Mar. 19, 2008 -- The Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development in partnership with the State Youth Council and Oklahoma State University recently hosted a community forum on youth entitled, "Youth: The REAL Future of the South".
This was one of three forums held around the state. Two were recently hosted by The Oklahoma Academy in partnership with Northeastern State University in Tahlequah and another with the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha.
The forums were designed to engage young people in determining how their visions, talents and passions can be utilized civically to enhance the potential of the South.
Aerospace Industry Study Results
Oklahoma will likely experience shortages of approximately 200 Aerospace Engineers and 400 Electrical Engineers by 2014, with shortages of additional engineering specialties possible in that same time frame, according to an industry report released today by the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development. The Aerospace Industry Report, the second of a series of selected sectors, assesses supply and demand and provides a gap analysis of the current and future workforce needs of Oklahoma's aerospace industry.
Oklahoma Aerospace Industry Workforce Report 2007
Through a survey conducted in 2006 Oklahoma's aerospace employers and industry representatives identified current and future skill needs as well as workforce supply and demand.
Employer Workforce Survey Results
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce has recently released a report and detailed tables from the Oklahoma Workforce Employer Survey.
The survey was conducted in the summer and fall of 2006 of all employers in the state with over 10 employees, with the exception of food and retail establishments. Over 2,800 surveys were returned and analyzed with assistance from the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, and the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development.
Follow the links below for the report summary, and summary data sorted by Workforce Investment Area and industry.
Workforce Survey Report 2006
Workforce Survey 2006 Data by Industry
Workforce Survey 2006 Data by WIA
