Together with the MassHire Metro North Workforce Board and the MassHire Metro South/West Workforce Board, the PIC has developed a regional workforce planning blueprint with input from education and economic development partners. The 2019 blueprint is currently under review and will be updated with guidance from the Healey-Driscoll administration’s Workforce Skills Cabinet.
The purpose of the initiative is to guide policy making and public investment and to align workforce development, education, economic development, health and human services activities in the context of regional labor markets. Specifically, the Greater Boston goals are:
- Align workforce development and education (K-12 and higher education) to be responsive to the labor market by reducing skill gaps in ever-evolving high-demand fields
- Leverage existing training programs or implement new programs that will ensure consistency of work readiness skills in our workforce
- Influence business and policy decisions to allow underrepresented segments of the population to achieve better employment outcomes
Priority Industries
The Steering Committee conducted an impact demand analysis and identified two industries as most important to the region’s economic success:
Healthcare and Social Assistance
The healthcare industry is the largest sector in terms of employment and ranks near the top in terms of growth in all three workforce areas that comprise Greater Boston. Healthcare is a dynamic and continuously evolving industry that offers employment opportunities at all levels and the potential for advancement.
Information Technology
Information technology crosses several industries including banking, insurance, and retail as well as large technology companies and startups.
Local Priorities
In addition, the three workforce boards have local priorities which include manufacturing, construction, life sciences, and hospitality.