For years, Nevada’s economy has been fueled by gaming and tourism. According to one report, 48% of the state’s workforce is tied to those industries through casino, food service, or other hospitality-related jobs. But state leaders and workforce development experts expect that to change in the next decade as more positions become available in high-demand sectors like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, and logistics.
Covid-19, which had a disproportionate impact on Nevada’s public-facing workforce, gave leaders a new sense of urgency about leading workers to more sustainable, high-demand careers. Due to the skill level these new jobs require, thousands of workers will need opportunities for training and education. In fact, some employees may find themselves back in school for the first time since high school, says Isla Young, Executive Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation.
“Because hospitality jobs are primarily entry-level, a large number of residents didn’t pursue additional credentials or degrees upon graduation from high school—if they did graduate.
They could immediately go to work at a casino and make $80,000 a year."
That’s why Young and other state officials were excited to be selected in the first cohort of the NGA Workforce Innovation Network (NGA WIN), a collaboration launched by the Cognizant Foundation and National Governors Association.
The nonpartisan network is helping build capacity for near-term innovation andlonger-term strategies for workforce development in Nevada—along with Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, New Mexico and Washington, as well as other states recognized in the initiative’s second phase.
Isla Young is the executive director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation.
As an NGA WIN grant recipient, Nevada received funding for coaching sessions from NGA staff and other technical assistance partners to support the development of a state action plan with policy recommendations to increase employment and deliver stronger workforce outcomes.
Nevada has long had a strong career training and education system in place at the K-12 level and has supported and promoted apprenticeship programs to link training to workforce needs. But it was Nevada’s vision for the future that stood out to the NGA WIN network. Each state submitted a proposal detailing how they would build virtual training delivery platforms, create new skill-development strategies, and provide equitable access to high-quality work opportunities even as the Covid-19 pandemic continued to impact the state’s workforce and economy.
Today, Nevada is leveraging NGA WIN to continue reimagining workforce education and training. That began with what Young calls “a marriage between economic development, workforce development, social services, and education.” Her office has involved leaders from the state’s K-12, higher education, and human services systems—including veterans’ affairs and corrections officials—in discussions about linking education and training with employer needs.
“If these facets aren’t coordinated, you won’t effectively implement solutions for your state,” Young says.
“We're about to really enhance data systems in our state, which without NGA WIN wouldn't have happened,” Young says. “Data bubbled to the top as one of the top areas of need during our discussions and we are fortunate to have the support to strengthen that system.”
All of this builds on the ongoing work the state’s community college system has initiated to reskill workers and upskill the underemployed. The system is creating new online credential programs delivered through virtual reality for dialysis training technicians, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, advanced manufacturing, and certified nursing assistants.
Additionally, Young’s office continuously raises the importance of providing wrap-around services to people in these programs. “You can have the greatest training programs in the world,” she says, “but if you don't have support for transportation, housing, or childcare, these opportunities will remain beyond reach.”
The NGA WIN grant allowed her office to hire a consultant who met with state leadership, local chambers of commerce, workforce boards, non-profits, regional development groups, and more to get their perspective on the future of jobs. Young says the NGA and the Cognizant Foundation, through NGA WIN, are helping the state meet the needs of both employers and residents, and “shape what’s available in our state, which, I think, will truly impact Nevadans for generations to come.”