CENTERTON -- Bentonville School District Superintendent Debbie Jones, speaking Tuesday during an event focused on employment opportunities in the region, encouraged parents to help their children think through their career options.
"They can have all the career counseling at school, but the influence you have as parents is so important," Jones said, addressing an audience of about 40 in West High School's auditorium.
Where to find work
Estimated annual hiring needs for skilled labor in Northwest Arkansas over next 10 years:
4,100 in business occupations: customer service representatives and technical support; sales, finance, insurance and real estate; accountants, human resources and analysts; and managers
880 in transportation: warehouse, drivers and supervisors
800 in health fields: specialists, nurses, techs, aides and personal care
525 in education fields: teachers, college and university faculty, teaching assistants, substitute teachers and child care workers
425 in construction trades: plumbers, electricians, carpenters, equipment operators and concrete
400 in maintenance: mechanical, electronic, industrial and general maintenance
265 in production: machine operators and technicians, welders and machinists
240 in information technology: software and web developers, systems and network analysts, help desk support and database administrators
Source: Northwest Arkansas Council
The district hosted what was dubbed the Future Ready Forum, a chance for business and education officials to gather and discuss how best to prepare students for the job market they'll encounter after graduation.
Jones explained how her first child obtained a college degree in international relations, only to struggle when it came to finding a job. That child eventually returned to college to study occupational therapy.
"Do you ever say to yourself, 'If I only knew then what I know now?'" she said.
Jones said she took time to review college programs with her next two children, making sure whatever they chose had a job attached to it.
Jones urged parents to maintain a "constant conversation" with their kids about potential jobs and take advantage of opportunities to ask different people about their careers.
Mike Harvey, chief operating officer of the Northwest Arkansas Council, hit on the same theme during his presentation at the event.
"We want to arm kids with as much information as we can," Harvey said. "Do your homework on this as parents, because this is a critical time in your children's lives."
Harvey provided data on the kinds of jobs that will be most in demand in the next decade. Among the areas employers report having the most trouble finding qualified workers are business and financial operations, information technology, health care and education, he said.
In annual surveys of Northwest Arkansas employers, the percentage of those who report having trouble filling open positions has increased from 41 percent in 2013 to 69 percent in 2015.
Harvey said that statistic concerns him, because an inability to fill jobs could stifle growth in the region.
"Soft" skills -- also referred to as people skills -- are the foundation of any valued employee, regardless of the job, Harvey said. Soft skills include knowing how to work with others and communicating effectively with co-workers and customers.
The forum began with a short video that stressed college is not a necessary pathway for everyone. The "college for all" philosophy has resulted in a misalignment of degrees awarded with jobs available. Only 33 percent of jobs require a four-year degree, according to the video.
Angie Warnock, president and chief executive officer of Vista Productions, said she does not have a college degree.
"A large percentage of entrepreneurs are not college grads," Warnock said.
Vista Productions produces live events. The ability to work in a group and learn from everyone else in the room is a key skill for someone in her business, she said.
Warnock was one of four business people who participated in a panel discussion that capped Tuesday's forum. The panelists answered questions posed by Harvey and the audience about preparing the next generation of workers.
Rita Carney, a vice president at Wal-Mart, emphasized the importance of critical thinking, which she said includes understanding a problem and testing different solutions. That kind of work develops a number of other soft skills like teamwork and communication, she said.
NW News on 09/28/2016