DAYTON, Ohio – The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce announced today the launch of DaytonWorkforce.com, a new online workforce tool aimed at aligning the labor needs of the business community with the skill-set of the region’s employable workforce.
The website, which was created with funds secured through a Lumina Foundation grant, provides detailed information on six industry segments. These segments have been identified by the chamber and its community partners as areas where the Dayton region will see significant job growth over the next 10 years. These segments are: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, business services, healthcare & bioscience, information technology, and logistics.
Users of the new online tool will be able to view the number of openings expected each year in each of these fields, the median hourly earnings of a person working in several occupations within the industry segments, as well as the major employers in the Dayton MSA for each segment. Industry snapshots are also available for download from the site.
Working with Learn to Earn Dayton, Montgomery County Development Services and the Montgomery County Educational Service Center, the chamber has also compiled a robust, searchable database of resources, which provide training and guidance for educational needs outlined by the user. This database will be maintained to reflect the ever-changing list of service providers available in the Dayton region.
The chamber has also partnered with Dayton Metro Libraries to include links to the Lynda.com online course service, which is free to Dayton Metro Library card holders. DaytonWorkforce.com also directs users to the library?s Career Cruising service, which is a modern version of the aptitude test, to help them determine which career best fits their needs, interests and skillset. For job seekers, DaytonWorkforce.com links to Ohio Means Jobs to ensure an up-to-date listing of job openings in the area.
“This tool was built by the chamber, but came together through key partnerships with several workforce & economic development organizations that provide services for our region, so we know we’re meeting several needs with its launch. We’re excited to finally have a place where economic indicators, labor market trends and career pathway resources can all be easily found,” said Stephanie Precht, Director of Public Policy, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Research for this new online tool began in 2015, when the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce secured a grant from the Lumina Foundation through the Association of Chambers of Commerce (ACCE). Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation based in Indianapolis, which is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Lumina Foundation is the nation’s largest private foundation focused solely on increasing Americans’ success in higher education.
The chamber has remained focused on workforce needs over the last several years after annual surveys of its 2,400 business members reflect its priority among business leaders. In February 2017, nearly 46 percent of chamber member respondents identified the ‘availability of skilled workers’ as an issue in critical need of addressing within the coming six months.
DaytonWorkforce.com is available to students, educators, adults wanting to make a career change, business leaders and more.
“We hope DaytonWorkforce.com will prove to be an important tool for anyone wanting a snapshot of Dayton’s economy and labor market. This website provides the only place where this data can be found compiled and easy to navigate, decipher and put to use,” said Precht.
About Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce: The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce brings together more than 2,400 businesses and organizations in a 9 county area surrounding Dayton, Ohio. The Chamber strives to improve the region?s business climate and overall standard of living through public policy advocacy, economic development initiatives and providing networking and training opportunities for its members. Information about the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce is available at www.daytonchamber.org or 937-226-1444.
About Lumina Foundation: Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. We envision a system that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation?s need for talent through a broad range of credentials. Our goal is to prepare people for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy. Based in Indianapolis, the Foundation employs roughly 55 staff members and has an endowment in excess of $1 billion. In 2016, Lumina awarded 87 grants, totaling more than $45 million. Lumina Foundation is the nation?s largest private foundation focused solely on increasing Americans? success in higher education. For more information about Lumina Foundation, see the Lumina Foundation FAQ, the Lumina Fact Sheet, and Lumina’s strategic plan to reach Goal 2025.
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