One of the objectives of the technology is to get four industry sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and finance and insurance, speaking “a common language,” he said.
Pearce and the board discovered that Emsi, a labor market data company based in Idaho, had a database of more than 30,000 words that describe the skills needed for any position, he said.
Emsi’s mission is to use labor market data to inform and connect people, education and employers, said Josh Wright, executive vice president of Workforce and Economic Development. His company has spent 20 years harnessing labor market data and creating tools to support economic prosperity, he said.
For the past 50 years, employers have posted positions based on job titles and job seekers were confused about all the various job titles that employers used due to their “unique cultures,” according to Pearce.
He said the chamber works with employers and helps them identify the skill set needed for all of their positions.
Skills2Careers then helps individuals build their skill profile that aligns with those skills needed by employers. The program also uses technology and artificial intelligence to scan the syllabi, course descriptions and curriculum of education to return a set of skills from classes and courses, according to Pearce, president of the chamber since 2013.
“Once this happens, we have taken the friction out of the process and all the parties involved know the skills they needed, the skills they have, and the skills they teach,” he said.
Skills2Careers was introduced in February 2021 and continues to be upgraded and it will become more effective as technology improves, he said.
Skills2Careers also has the ability to help with career exploration for students. They can identify the skills they have a learn for future employment and align that with an educational institution that can provide those skills, he said.
Pearce said Middletown, Monroe, Madison and Edgewood schools districts are aware of the technology. The pilot program is being used in Nevada and Middletown, said Bob Sommers, from CF Educational Solutions.
The goal is to prepare students for “life after high school” regardless of their career path, Pearce said.
“Skills2Careers is the next generation talent/job search tool and we’re very excited to be able to introduce this technology to our employers,” he said.
OUTGOING CHAMBER BOARD MEMBERS
Dick Lange: Joe Morgan Honda
Tom Scott: McGraw/Kokosing
INCOMING CHAMBER BOARD MEMBERS
Shannon Bannerman: Riley’s Furniture
Ande Durojaiye: Miami Regionals
Rhonda Seidenschmidt: Atrium Medical Center
Bob Sommers: CF Educational Solutions
2022 CHAIR
Rob Zielsdorf: Cohen
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