Building an Effective Workforce for the Future

A new and exciting era in workforce is here, stemming from emerging high-tech needs and changing work environments that require new types of skills. As American companies get more cutting edge and struggle to keep up with changing skill needs, how do the current credentials fit into the future of the workforce? More importantly, how can we equip individuals and employers with the highest quality and most valuable credentials – those that are agile enough to evolve with the demands of the ever-changing workplace, and that equate to successful careers for years to come?

I am thrilled to announce that Workcred will bring together workforce experts on November 7 to share inspiring solutions during the Workcred and ANSI joint conference, "Building an Effective Workforce for the Future," a highlight of World Standards Week 2019 in Washington, DC.

We look forward to hearing the insights of two prominent and engaging keynote speakers. Patrick Gallagher, Ph.D., chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh and former under secretary for standards and technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce, will share his views on opportunities to address the skills gap through a multi-stakeholder process to develop credentials that function at market scale. Anthony Carnevale, Ph.D., director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, will highlight economic trends and factors affecting the workforce of tomorrow in his afternoon keynote.

Interactive discussions during the conference will cover pressing topics facing the workforce today, including a segment on the Future of Work examining the intersection of learning, education and training, and how new technologies and work environments will give way to new skills. A discussion on New Credentials for the Future Workforce will address new methods and types of credentials – including skills-based hiring, life-long learning models of education and training, and the rise of badges and other micro-credentials – that are disrupting traditional models of learning.

Upskilling, Reskilling, and Retraining Today’s Workforce panelists will take a close look at how organizations are reinventing their workforce to meet the shifting demands of industry. According to new findings, organizational perceptions are shifting as employers recognize that current skills are in jeopardy. It is also becoming clear that millions of workers may require retraining or reskilling to keep up with changing pace of business.

Finally, Future of the Standards Workforce will include colleagues from the standards community who will highlight the innovative ways in which they are responding to various workforce challenges.

I hope you can join us as we look towards building an effective workforce for the future during this first-of-its kind event. Check out our conference webpage for more details and to register to attend. As always, feel free to drop me a note at [email protected]. See you on November 7!

Best regards,

Roy A. Swift