Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Schlossberg (right) interviewed Karianne Gelinas and Don Cunningham of LVEDC.

Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Schlossberg recently spoke with representatives of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) about the significant changes in the regional economy and what it means for the workforce.

Schlossberg interviewed LVEDC President & CEO Don Cunningham and Director of Talent Supply Karianne Gelinas for a 10-minute video he published this week entitled. Click here to view the full video on YouTube.

Cunningham discusses what makes the Lehigh Valley a good place to do business, highlights the historic increases in the regional GDP, and the particularly strong growth of the Lehigh Valley’s manufacturing and e-commerce sectors.

Cunningham also spoke about the type of skills employers are looking for, the increased need for STEM and technology skills among workers, and the important role vocational and technical schools play in providing those skills for the workforce.

“The region’s that will continue to see growth and the creation of jobs are those regions that have workers with the skills that make companies want to stay there and grow there,” Cunningham said.

Gelinas spoke about the ongoing Lehigh Valley initiative to identify talent supply and demand issues in the region and create a strategy that results in a broader, ongoing understanding of the regional workforce among employers, educators, and other stakeholders.

“The education community is really interested in knowing what the employers need so they can build curriculums and create certifications that will engage those potential employees and better align our talent pipeline,” she said.

Cunningham and Kelinas also discussed the impact of robotics and automation in the Lehigh Valley economy, particularly in manufacturing, as well as the importance quality of life and vibrant urban downtowns have in recruiting talent.

“One of the major of them being able to recruit talent is livability, likability, and being in an urban area where there are activities, restaurants, bars, arts, culture, and access to recreation,” Cunningham said. “So cities like Allentown that have been reinventing themselves and revitalizing the downtowns are a critical part of corporate attraction.”