A grand opening ceremony was held Feb. 5, 2020, for the Welding Technology Center at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. It’s one of the many examples of the ways the Lehigh Valley is growing a skilled workforce to meet the demands of employers. (Photo by Matt Smith)

The 2022 Lehigh Valley Talent Supply Study, a blueprint for strengthening the region’s skilled workforce, will be released March 2 during a virtual forum hosted by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) and the Workforce Board Lehigh Valley (WBLV).

The in-depth study uncovers the successes and challenges Lehigh Valley employers are facing and offers insights into the post-pandemic economy. It also assesses the regional workforce and recommends strategies that employers and educators can use to meet labor supply needs now and in the future. An update of a 2018 analysis, the talent study offers guidance that will inform regional workforce initiatives.

“The pandemic has only underscored the notion that the Lehigh Valley’s economic success, and that of the region, is predicated on the quality of its workforce. We must have a workforce with skills and attributes that employers value to attract and retain companies with family-sustaining jobs,” said Karianne Gelinas, LVEDC Vice President of Talent Supply and Development. “This study offers clear recommendations for collaboration on strategies that strengthen the talent pipeline in the Lehigh Valley.”

“The number one customer of the Workforce Board Lehigh Valley (WBLV) and its PA CareerLink® Lehigh Valley workforce system is the EMPLOYER. In partnership with the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC), we commissioned an employer-driven Talent Supply Study, resulting in a comprehensive analysis of education output and workforce supply,” said Nancy Dischinat, Executive Director of Workforce Board Lehigh Valley. “Along with our data partners at the PA Center for Workforce Information and Analysis and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, the Talent Supply Study results are the third source in defining workforce trends.”

The talent study, conducted by Camoin 310 in partnership with the labor market analytics group EMSI/Burning Glass, is derived from a labor market analysis, survey of local employers, and focus groups comprising company officials in key industry sectors.

The sectors include advanced manufacturing, life sciences research and manufacturing, health care, high value business services, and transportation, warehousing, logistics, and wholesale. Those sectors were chosen based on the number of workers employed in the sector, the employers’ concerns about their access to talent and the potential strategic growth for those sectors in the Lehigh Valley.

Jim Damicis, Senior Vice President at Camoin 310, will present the findings of the study at the hour-long event, scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.

There is no cost to attend the event, but registration is required. Click here to register.

The assessment of the talent market is just one of the many initiatives of the LVEDC’s Education and Talent Supply Council, a regional coalition formed in 2015. The council brings together leaders from business, education, and community organizations to identify talent market gaps and implement strategies that strengthen our talent pipeline in the Lehigh Valley.

The council has hosted three Internship Summits to encourage the creation and expansion of internship opportunities between Lehigh Valley employers and colleges. LVEDC also has published an Internship Toolkit of best practices for employers and a directory of Career Development contacts and information available at Lehigh Valley colleges and universities.

Another important initiative led by the council is the creation of Hot Career Guides, an annual compilation researched by LVEDC of the most in-demand occupations in the Lehigh Valley according to job postings with accompanying information on the educational requirements and earnings potential of those jobs.

The region’s unique partnership to identify and address talent market needs was selected as the 2021 Economic Development Program of the Year by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association and won a Gold Award as the top Talent Development and Retention Program of 2021 from the International Economic Development Council.

The talent supply initiative and the work of the Education and Talent Supply Council are possible thanks to grant funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania secured through the leadership of State Sen. Pat Browne.