An employment crisis is brewing eight years down the line: As the baby boomers retire and smaller generations come to working maturity, demand for employees will far outstrip supply. Will the gum-popping youths of today be ready to fill those retiring shoes?
Such was the picture painted by Darah Bonham, the new director of Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) at an event for local business leaders July 20. With the idea of enlisting support from the business community, Bonham outlined strategies for his institute, which partners with local school systems to provide “vocational” classes on barbering, firefighting and information technology, among other subjects.
Unfortunately, not many were there to get the message: Only three business people turned out for the event. “We have stiff competition tonight,” said Darah Bonham, referencing events by the Chamber of Commerce and a tour at UVA’s new John Paul Jones Arena. Bonham will try again July 27 with a similar event for the business community.
City Council has paid lip-service to workforce education, and funding—which comes from school budgets—has increased in recent years, up to $500,000 from the City and $1.5 million from the County for more than 400 students who attend on a part-time basis. But the business component will be crucial. As Bonham says, only with business buy-in can students truly be convinced that CATEC classes will directly lead to employment.
“In the end, are they prepared to be what an employer wants them to be?” asks Bonham. “That’s the true judge.”
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