Corporate Voices for Working Families launched its newly formed Earn and Learn Working Group on February 24 in Washington, D.C. Leaders from twenty companies came together to share promising practices in employer-led, talent development models that help entry-level workers attain post-secondary credentials with value in the labor market, particularly for young adults 16 to 26.
The Gates Foundation, which is partnering with Corporate Voices on this initiative, addressed the group, recognizing the great value employers contribute through internal training. Gates representatives invited employers to deepen partnerships with other sectors to meet shared goals of increasing employee skill level by supporting post secondary completion among the low income young adult population.
Representatives from the Obama administration also addressed the business leaders, explaining that the President’s goal to double the number of people with post-secondary credentials will only be achieved through collaboration across sectors. Brenda Dann-Messier, U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and Gerri Fiala, U. S. Department of Labor, Deputy Assistant Secretary each discussed department initiatives that align with employer led earn and learn models. In addition, Emanuel Pleitez, Designated Federal Officer of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, commented on the critical role entry level worker training will play in the country’s economic recovery.
Leaders from Northrop Grumman, UPS and Verizon Wireless each shared Earn and Learn practices, describing both how the models work as well as the business case for investing in the models. Following the presentations, the companies engaged in a robust round-table discussion, sharing other promising practices and exploring barriers to supporting post-secondary attainment among entry level and incumbent workers. The business leaders surfaced a number of issues including strategies for partnering with community colleges, the need for remedial education for a large percentage of the entry level workforce, the potential for alignment of higher skill needs within companies and support for post secondary completion and federal policy ideas.
The peer-to-peer learning fostered in the Feb 24 meeting was of great value to the participants, who committed to convene regularly over the coming year. The Earn and Learn working group will work with Corporate Voices to document and frame essential components of earn and learn models, identify pathways and barriers to scaling effective models, identify public policy strategies, and confer with leaders from the community college sector.
We welcome the participation of other corporations in the Earn and Learn Working Group. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, please contact Peggy Walton at pwalton@corporatevoices.org or 202-467-8137.
Earn and Learn Working Group Members:
Accenture
Adecco North America
Baxter International Inc.
Bon Secours Health Systems
Bright Horizons
CVS/Caremark
H.E. Butt
KPMG, LLP.
Marriott International
Northrop Grumman
Pacific Gas and Electric
The Home Depot
TJX Companies
UPS
Verizon Wireless
Washington Gas and Light
Worksource Partners
YUM Brands
