educate
workforce development
We envision an educated athens
Educate Athens’ focus is on workforce development, which is a complex and multifaceted issue. The data presented here show the challenges families are having with the cost of living, the childcare landscape, and the implications of wide-spread job and paid benefits loss in the last few years. Athens Wellbeing Project data show that families are working more (many over 40 hours a week), but are having greater difficulty paying basic bills that are required for a minimum standard of living. Many individuals in Athens have a high school diploma or less and are working hourly wage jobs that have not risen in pay fast enough to keep pace with historic inflation rates in 2022. Simultaneously, there is a strong worker shortage. These conditions have created emergent need for connecting individuals to career development opportunities and improving communication of opportunities between workers and employees.
- Childcare
- Labor Supply & Cost of Living
- Lacking Info for Job & Education Opportunities
- Education to Workforce Pathways
Childcare
The fragmented nature of care makes it difficult for parents to go to work when their children have no place to go. Athens is facing a lack of childcare spots across all income levels, largely due to the recent significant turnover in the childcare workforce. Holiday and summer childcare is also difficult to find and expensive when it is found.
Labor Supply and Cost of Living
Athens is in the midst of a worker shortage. The hourly pay in the city has risen but not enough to keep up with the price of inflation. The cost of housing and food has made it difficult for families to make ends meet even when they are working 40 or more hours a week. Employees are also having to make the difficult decision between affording insurance and benefits to other needs that have rising costs.
Lacking Information for Job & Education Opportunities
The current workplace is facing a communication breakdown between employers, employees, and potential employees about job opportunities resulting in a loss of opportunities for workers and employers. There is also a lack of information about educational programs for potential students, and that information that is public can be difficult to navigate. Athens has a need for a central hub for all to access education and job opportunities.
Education to Workforce Pathways
In general, more communication is needed between technical colleges, vocational programs, and public schools in order to keep these programs open to potential students. The benefits of post secondary and technical education go unknown and under utilized because of this lack of communication. There are many local educational opportunities that need clear communication and pathways built to local employers so that students and future employers can create relationships and secure employment.
Childcare
The fragmented nature of care makes it difficult for parents to go to work when their children have no place to go. Athens is facing a lack of childcare spots across all income levels, largely due to the recent significant turnover in the childcare workforce. Holiday and summer childcare is also difficult to find and expensive when it is found.
Labor supply and cost of living
Athens is in the midst of a worker shortage. The hourly pay in the city has risen but not enough to keep up with the price of inflation. The cost of housing and food has made it difficult for families to make ends meet even when they are working 40 or more hours a week. Employees are also having to make the difficult decision between affording insurance and benefits to other needs that have rising costs.
Lacking Information for job and education opportunities
The current workplace is facing a communication breakdown between employers, employees, and potential employees about job opportunities resulting in a loss of opportunities for workers and employers. There is also a lack of information about educational programs for potential students, and that information that is public can be difficult to navigate. Athens has a need for a central hub for all to access education and job opportunities.
Education to Workforce Pathways
In general, more communication is needed between technical colleges, vocational programs, and public schools in order to keep these programs open to potential students. The benefits of post secondary and technical education go unknown and under utilized because of this lack of communication. There are many local educational opportunities that need clear communication and pathways built to local employers so that students and future employers can create relationships and secure employment.
