Building a Future Ready Workforce with Joshua Wright

In this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer sits down with Josh Wright, Executive Vice President of Growth, Education and Government for Lightcast, to discuss the future of work and workforce demographic shifts. We dive deep into Lightcast's report "The Rising Storm: Building a Future Ready Workforce to Withstand the Looming Labor Shortage." Josh shares insights on the demographic drought facing the workforce, including accelerated baby boomer retirements, declining birth rates, and decreasing labor force participation.

We explore the potential impacts of these trends on various industries and regions, as well as possible solutions such as automation, immigration, and improved career navigation. The conversation highlights the crucial role of community colleges and local workforce development initiatives in addressing these challenges.

Key takeaways:

1. The US is facing a significant workforce shortage due to demographic shifts, with impacts varying by industry and region.
2. Local, data-driven approaches to workforce development and education are essential for addressing these challenges.
3. There's a growing need for skills-based hiring and more agile, adaptable training programs to prepare workers for the changing job market.

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