The 2016 SkillsUSA Arkansas Leadership and Skills Championships, being held today and Wednesday at the Hot Springs Convention Center, will include an appearance by the state's new "Be Pro Be Proud" workforce initiative.
The initiative's mobile workshop, in addition to making a stop at the SkillsUSA conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, will also be at Lake Hamilton High School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday.
The mobile workshop encourages student participation in construction, trucking, manufacturing and other specific skilled jobs, a news release said. It includes interactive work stations that engage students in skilled professional careers through gaming and a video-rich experience.
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas announced the launch of the new "Be Pro Be Proud" initiative in early March.
The initiative was created to address the growing "gap" in the skilled workforce. There are an estimated 5.6 million job openings in the United States today, according to ASCC/AIA, and about 60,000 of those openings are in Arkansas, with the majority being in highly skilled technical fields.
"The initiative targets many key audiences including high school and nontraditional students, current skilled professionals, legislators, parents, teachers, career coaches and employers to dispel the myths about skilled trade professions, showcase current skilled professionals' true vocational pride, highlight the many career opportunities available within these trades and provide necessary resources and training to those interested," the release said.
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce is leading the initiative, which is also supported by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the Delta Regional Authority, Wal-Mart, Truck Centers of Arkansas, the Arkansas Trucking Association, Associated General Contractors of America -- Arkansas, Nucor Steel, Entergy Arkansas Inc., Welsco, Haas Automation, Pace Industries, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and the Arkansas Department of Career Education.
The mobile unit includes videos detailing 12 skilled professions, including trucking and diesel technology, their job responsibilities and average wages for each.
It also has a Skills Challenge interactive touch wall that puts students' hand-eye coordination to the test, a Plumbing Pathway, where students can compete against others to fit pipes together, emulating a career path in plumbing, and a welding simulator, where students can practice welding techniques and compare their skills against industry standards.
Local on 04/12/2016