New Report Reveals Alabama’s Path to Best Future Workforce

ReadyNation, a skilled workforce-building organization, this week released a report that highlights the connection between postsecondary education and developing the workforce that Alabama needs now and will in the future.

BCA President and CEO William J. Canary has served on the ReadyNation Advisory Board. At the BCA and Alabama Technology Network’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards luncheon in Montgomery, Canary recognized two ReadyNation staff members, ReadyNation Deputy Director Nancy Fishman ReadyNation senior national policy Advisor Jill Boxler.

“[ReadyNation board members] were instrumental in helping the BCA enter the early childhood arena with a focus on Pre-K.” William J. Canary

“Nancy and Jill are here to celebrate our state’s work to connect business and industry with postsecondary education, learn more about what we do and why, and share a new report that ReadyNation is releasing later today at a meeting of the BCA’s Manufacturing Alliance Council,” Canary said.

In so many ways, several of these ReadyNation Board members (Robert Dugger, Sara Watson and Steve Barnett) were instrumental in helping BCA enter the early childhood arena with a focus on Pre-K. “That support provided us with funding, research and encouragement to move forward,” Canary said.

ReadyNation’s report released Wednesday at the BCA’s Manufacturing Alliance Council board of directors meeting describes how business executives build a skilled workforce by promoting solutions that prepare children to succeed in education, work, and life.

The report’s summary: Partnerships between businesses and postsecondary institutions are an important factor in building a strong workforce.

“Alabama’s business leaders are united in their commitment to strengthening the state’s future workforce.” William J. Canary

ReadyNation is part of the Council for a Strong America, a national, bipartisan nonprofit that unites five organizations comprised of law enforcement leaders, retired admirals and generals, business executives, pastors, and prominent coaches and athletes who promote solutions that ensure our next generation of Americans will be citizen-ready.

“There are more than 28,000 job openings in Alabama waiting to be filled by qualified workers.” ReadyNation

Council for Strong America has more than 9,000 members who bring decades of expertise and leadership to communities and at the state and national levels to promote evidence-based policies that strengthen the United States.

ReadyNation works on K-12 and postsecondary education and has been mobilizing its network of business leaders in Alabama to raise awareness about the obstacles that impact quality, completion, equity, affordability, and innovation in postsecondary education.

There are more than 28,000 job openings in Alabama waiting to be filled by qualified workers, ReadyNation said.

“As members of the business community, we are deeply troubled by this ‘skills gap’ and what it could mean for the future of our state’s economy,” Canary said. “Alabama’s business leaders are united in their commitment to strengthening the state’s future workforce.”

Council for a Strong America is a national, bipartisan nonprofit that unites five organizations comprised of law enforcement leaders, retired admirals and generals, business executives, pastors, and prominent coaches and athletes who promote solutions that ensure our next generation of Americans will be citizen-ready.