CLEVELAND, OH — August 7, 2006 — Remaining competitive in a global economy is a challenge for any company in any industry. That’s why the partnership between states or communities and companies is essential, especially in the area of work force training.
“Years ago, companies didn’t expect to earn money off their newly hired workers for at least the first six months of employment,” said Ken Krizner, managing editor of Expansion Management. “New workers were in an apprentice-type situation, where the company was quite willing to invest time, money and patience in the present for a payoff down in the future. Those days are long gone.”
For the eighth year in a row, Expansion Management polled more than 80 prominent corporate site consultants to determine which states had the best overall work force training programs. Southeastern states dominated the rankings, with Alabama, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina making up the top five. (See below for a complete list of the top 10 states).
The results of the poll appear in the magazine’s July-August 2006 issue, which also contains a comprehensive list of the major work force training programs available in each of the 50 states, along with information on whom to contact in each state for further information.
“Having a ready supply of educated and trainable workers is still the No. 1 priority for any business executive who is considering opening up a new facility,” said Bill King, editor of Expansion Management magazine. “Given the enormous capital expense incurred in expanding or relocating a manufacturing facility, any assistance a company can receive from state and local governments to meet its initial training needs may play a decisive role when that company is down to its short list of two or three competing locations and must make its final decision.”
Programs are judged not only in terms of their financial value, but also in terms of ease of usage and applicability. In other words, some programs may have a high value, in theory, but are of little practical use to most companies. Likewise, some programs may be both useful and valuable, but are so wrapped up in red tape requirements that their extremely difficult to actually use.
“Work force training incentives clearly have a direct impact on the competitiveness of a state,” said Krizner.
To read the 2006 Work Force Training article, visit Expansion Management’s Web site at www.ExpansionManagement.com..
Top 10 States With the Best Work Force Training Programs
1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Texas
4. North Carolina
5. South Carolina
6. Colorado
7. Tennessee
8. Kentucky
9. Arizona
10. Florida
SOURCE: Expansion Management poll of 80 Corporate Site Location Consultants, June 2006.
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