NOC Joins Other Organizations to Discuss Workforce Development in Beaufort County
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NOC participated in the "WorkStarts Summit" sponsored by the Beaufort County Library on June 23, 2010, in Beaufort. The purpose of the Summit was to assess unemployment and underemployment in Beaufort County and its impact on the quality of life of people residing in the county. Presentations were made by representatives from the Lowcountry Council of Governments, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, the Lowcountry Economic Network, and the South Carolina State Library. These presentations demonstrated that unemployment and underemployment are significant and widespread problems in Beaufort County, as they are in other areas in South Carolina. The poor are most affected by these problems, but unlike previous economic recessions, many other people are sliding backward into the poverty group.
The presentations also showed that we need better data and analysis of the workforce and labor market and the extent of underemployment in the county. The consensus was that more jobs need to be created by diversifying the local economy and making it more competitive to attract new industries relating to knowledge-intensive businesses, aeronautics, green industries, and logistics and distributions. The local economy can no longer rely solely on tourism, military, and real estate. The discussions illuminated the importance of training and continuous learning, access to information, job seeker services, and support to businesses.
In this connection, NOC will give special attention to its workforce development program in distressed neighborhoods. NOC will also establish a stronger relationship with the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, including its "One Stop" facility for training, job information, and support. NOC will continue to expand its collaboration with the Beaufort County Library for training and dissemination of information to individuals living in many low income neighborhoods.