Metro Denver’s WIRED InitiativeMetro Denver’s WIRED InitiativeGGrowing our Own: A Model for Reducingrowing our Own: A Model for Reducing

our Dependence on Imported Skillsour Dependence on Imported Skills

Presentation to Edmonds Community CollegePresentation to Edmonds Community College

Vicky Lea, Aerospace CoordinatorVicky Lea, Aerospace Coordinator

October 31, 2007October 31, 2007

The Metro Denver WIRED Initiative

• 9 Counties - total population of almost 3 million people (total CO 4.7 million people)

• 8 Workforce Investment Boards

• More than 25 school districts, representing 65% of statewide enrollment

• Active involvement of industry, education, workforce, and economic development stakeholders.

The Metro Denver WIRED Initiative

• WIRED partners: implementing transformational and sustainable changes in our education and workforce systems to further develop a labor force skilled in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) that supports the region’s fastest growing industries – aerospace, bioscience, energy, and IT/software.

• 80% of Metro Denver’s WIRED grant dedicated to funding new and innovative regional initiatives that respond to the needs of industry.

ProcessProcess

Assess the needs of industryAssess the needs of industry Conduct asset mappingConduct asset mapping Analyze gapsAnalyze gaps Conduct pollingConduct polling

Action Plan for Sustainable SolutionsAction Plan for Sustainable Solutions Funding Promising practicesFunding Promising practicesDeveloping regional programs and partnershipsDeveloping regional programs and partnerships

Assessing Industry NeedsAssessing Industry Needs

Compiled Compiled Jobs MatrixJobs Matrix through working with a through working with a Industry Panels and company interviews.Industry Panels and company interviews.

Conducted Conducted Business SurveyBusiness Survey through online through online survey instrument and industry focus groups. survey instrument and industry focus groups.

Gathered input from industry on:Gathered input from industry on:

High-demand jobsHigh-demand jobsJobs that are critical, difficult to fillJobs that are critical, difficult to fillJobs that are filled frequently due to expansion Jobs that are filled frequently due to expansion and/or turnoverand/or turnover

Education and skill requirementsEducation and skill requirements

Years of experience requiredYears of experience required

Gathered input from industry on:Gathered input from industry on:

Difficulty/criticality in filling high-demand jobsDifficulty/criticality in filling high-demand jobs

Sources and methods for recruiting Sources and methods for recruiting employeesemployees

Industry perceptions of K-12 and higher Industry perceptions of K-12 and higher education systemseducation systems

Public perceptions of careers in industryPublic perceptions of careers in industry

The Aerospace Industry in ColoradoThe Aerospace Industry in Colorado

Develops products & systems for commercial, military, and space Develops products & systems for commercial, military, and space applicationsapplications

Focus areas include R&D and Design & Manufacturing for:Focus areas include R&D and Design & Manufacturing for:

Navigation & Detection InstrumentsNavigation & Detection Instruments

Guided missilesGuided missiles

Space vehiclesSpace vehicles

SatellitesSatellites

Communications EquipmentCommunications Equipment

Planetary SpacecraftPlanetary Spacecraft

Launch systemsLaunch systems

Mission supportMission support

The Aerospace Industry in Colorado The Aerospace Industry in Colorado cont.cont.

Second largest cluster in the nation for private target industry Second largest cluster in the nation for private target industry employment (26,650)employment (26,650)

Location of 7 Major Aerospace contractors Location of 7 Major Aerospace contractors

(Ball Corporation, Boeing Company, ITT Corporation, Lockheed Martin, (Ball Corporation, Boeing Company, ITT Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Company, United Launch Alliance)Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Company, United Launch Alliance)

Location of leading Geospatial companies: GeoEye and Location of leading Geospatial companies: GeoEye and DigitalGlobe, Inc.DigitalGlobe, Inc.

Home to 4 Military Commands (employing 29,200)Home to 4 Military Commands (employing 29,200)

124 businesses classified as aerospace companies (+200 124 businesses classified as aerospace companies (+200 additional companies directly serving aerospace cluster)additional companies directly serving aerospace cluster)

Approx 50% of aerospace companies employ fewer than 10 peopleApprox 50% of aerospace companies employ fewer than 10 people

Recent DevelopmentsRecent Developments

United Launch AllianceUnited Launch Alliance (merging of Lockheed Martin and Boeing Corporation’s (merging of Lockheed Martin and Boeing Corporation’s commercial rocket launch divisions)commercial rocket launch divisions)

Orion Crew Exploration VehicleOrion Crew Exploration VehicleLockheed Martin begun work on $8,2 billion NASA contract for Lockheed Martin begun work on $8,2 billion NASA contract for shuttle replacementshuttle replacement

In-Demand Aerospace Occupations

Aerospace Engineers (58% of in-demand jobs):Aerospace, Electronics, Systems, Software, & Mechanical

Technicians: Assembly & Test

Managers: Mission Assurance, Business, Engineering & Program

Business Operations Personnel

Analysts: Business, Mission, Structural & Thermal

In-Demand Business Operations In-Demand Business Operations Occupations in AerospaceOccupations in Aerospace

Business AnalystsBusiness Analysts Contracts & Proposal SpecialistsContracts & Proposal Specialists Strategic Product ManagersStrategic Product Managers Programming ConsultantsProgramming Consultants

***Industry-specific experience often required***

In-Demand Occupations Shared by WIRED Industries

• Engineers: all types, but particularly System and Software

All sectors

• Technicians: Manufacturing, Test, Lab/High Precision

Aerospace, Bioscience & Energy

• Scientists

Energy & Bioscience

• Business Operations Personnel

All sectors

Level of Experience Required For In-Demand OccupationsLevel of Experience Required For In-Demand Occupations

1.1. 6-14 years6-14 years

2.2. 0-5 years0-5 years

3.3. 15+ years15+ years

6-14 years experience is the most frequently required experience level for in-demand occupations

across the sectors

Industry PerceptionsIndustry Perceptions

AerospaceAerospace Everyone’s a “Rocket Scientist” (lack of awareness about the Everyone’s a “Rocket Scientist” (lack of awareness about the

many other aerospace occupations)many other aerospace occupations) Not “cool” for high school students to be interested in space Not “cool” for high school students to be interested in space

(in contrast to enthusiasm of younger grades)(in contrast to enthusiasm of younger grades) History of instability (based upon large scale staff History of instability (based upon large scale staff

consolidation & downsizing in the 90s)consolidation & downsizing in the 90s)

BioscienceBioscience Unstable, & relatively few jobs for workers displaced when Unstable, & relatively few jobs for workers displaced when

small companies are sold to larger companies (leads to small companies are sold to larger companies (leads to “jumping ship”)“jumping ship”)

““White Lab Coat” /”CSI Forensics” image (little awareness of White Lab Coat” /”CSI Forensics” image (little awareness of the 24/7 production environment)the 24/7 production environment)

Relatively few entry-level positions (most require 3-5 years Relatively few entry-level positions (most require 3-5 years experience)experience)

Skills Required For WIRED Industries:Skills Required For WIRED Industries:

Strengthened basic core skillsStrengthened basic core skills

Leadership and personnel skillsLeadership and personnel skills

Project managementProject management

Communication skillsCommunication skills

Business skillsBusiness skills

Technical literacyTechnical literacy

Critical thinkingCritical thinking

Teamwork, and Team-BuildingTeamwork, and Team-Building

Complex problem solvingComplex problem solving

Feedback from WIRED Aerospace Industry Panel on Required and Projected Skill-Sets

• Active listening• Complex problem solving• Critical thinking• Instructing• Judgment and decision-making• Leadership• Learning strategies• Management of financial resources• Management of material resources• Management of personnel resources• Mathematics• Monitoring• Negotiation

• Persuasion• Programming• Quality control analysis• Team-building• Technology design• Time management• Troubleshooting• Reading Comprehension• Science• Service orientation• Social perceptiveness• Speaking• Systems analysis• Systems evaluation

• Earned Value Analysis• Remote sensing • Satellite operations• Image processing• Security Clearance• Digital signal processing• Board design• High reliability manufacturing/soldering• Aerospace electronics enclosure packaging design• Geospatial software• Optical engineering• Soldering• Image science

Feedback from WIRED Aerospace Industry Panel on Special Skills/Certification/Knowledge Requirements

• IDL, C/C++, Java, Visual Studio, UNIX, LINUX, Windows, HTML, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, QuarkXpress, FrameMaker, Adobe Acrobat, ENVI• Math/scientific programming languages (Matlab, Mathematica, ArcGIS, ERDAS)• Object oriented & software design skills• Multispectral/hyperspectral theory• MSI/HSI-specific algorithm development/validation

Feedback from WIRED Aerospace Industry Panel on Minimum Education Requirements

• Undergraduate degree: 73%• HS/GED: 10%• Graduate degree: 8%• Associate degree: 4%• Vocational certification: 2.5%• Professional certification: 2.5%

Key Issues:

•Undergraduate degree requirements, when associate degree and/or combination of experience and professional certifications is sufficient

•Lack Career Ladder Information – particularly for manufacturing and production occupations

AnalysisUndergraduate: 58%Graduate: 28%Associate: 14%

Business FunctionsUndergraduate: 73%HS/GED: 18%Professional Certification: 9%

EngineeringUndergraduate: 85.5%Graduate: 6.5%Associate: 5%Vocational Cert: 3%

IT & SoftwareUndergraduate: 67%HS/GED: 17%Associate: 8%Vocational Cert: 8%

ManagementUndergraduate: 100%

Manufacturing & ProductionHS/GED: 100%

OperationsUndergraduate: 86%Graduate: 14%

ScientistsGraduate: 100%

Feedback from WIRED Aerospace Industry Panel on Minimum Education Requirements

Breakdown by Occupation Category

Where else is the Metro Denver Where else is the Metro Denver Aerospace Industry recruiting from?Aerospace Industry recruiting from?

1. California, Virginia, Washington D.C.

2. Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Louisiana, Kansas, Indiana, NY York, Arizona, Montana, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Wyoming

WIRED Industry Needs and IssuesWIRED Industry Needs and Issues

Lack of connectivity between industry & educationLack of connectivity between industry & education:: Difficulties identifying education partnersDifficulties identifying education partners Better connections needed with Tech Transfer OfficesBetter connections needed with Tech Transfer Offices User-friendly access points needed for internship information (for User-friendly access points needed for internship information (for

industry & students)industry & students) “ “Structural” issues, or lack of “marketing”? Structural” issues, or lack of “marketing”?

STEM skillsSTEM skills: : Better STEM skills needed for high-level jobsBetter STEM skills needed for high-level jobs More rigorous STEM education required for K-12 populationMore rigorous STEM education required for K-12 population

Better business and “soft” skills neededBetter business and “soft” skills needed:: Leadership, project management, communication, team-workingLeadership, project management, communication, team-working

WIRED Industries Needs & Issues Cont…WIRED Industries Needs & Issues Cont…

Technology Education Standards (lacking or inconsistent)Technology Education Standards (lacking or inconsistent) How to address unbalanced information from career How to address unbalanced information from career

counselors/teachers/parentscounselors/teachers/parents How to develop & retain student interest in STEM, provide positive How to develop & retain student interest in STEM, provide positive

influence on career choiceinfluence on career choice

Experience and skill set most important requirement for new hires Experience and skill set most important requirement for new hires

Lack of diversity in applicant poolLack of diversity in applicant pool

Lack of awareness about Workforce servicesLack of awareness about Workforce services Perception that Workforce System does not provide qualified Perception that Workforce System does not provide qualified

applicantsapplicants Emerging jobs hard to fit into Workforce System’s standardized job Emerging jobs hard to fit into Workforce System’s standardized job

descriptionsdescriptions

Key Findings Shared By All WIRED Industry PanelsKey Findings Shared By All WIRED Industry Panels

Workforce pipeline requires larger talent pool, with improved Workforce pipeline requires larger talent pool, with improved STEM, soft, business and technology skillsSTEM, soft, business and technology skills

High value placed on industry experience and internshipsHigh value placed on industry experience and internships

Industry perception “make-overs” neededIndustry perception “make-overs” needed

More targeted assistance required from the Workforce SystemMore targeted assistance required from the Workforce System

Greater awareness needed of Workforce servicesGreater awareness needed of Workforce services

Increased connectivity and alignment with EducationIncreased connectivity and alignment with Education

Research and reports available from our website: Research and reports available from our website: http://http://www.metrodenver.org/Wired/RandR.icmwww.metrodenver.org/Wired/RandR.icm

Metro Denver WIRED – Supply & Demand Panel Recommendations Summary Metro Denver WIRED – Supply & Demand Panel Recommendations Summary (10/07)(10/07)

Case Studies for Metro Denver WIRED Region Best Practice Analysis Report Case Studies for Metro Denver WIRED Region Best Practice Analysis Report (5/07)(5/07)

Metro Denver WIRED Region Strategic Findings, Best Practices Analysis Metro Denver WIRED Region Strategic Findings, Best Practices Analysis ReportReport

Metro Denver WIRED Region Workforce Competencies Analysis Report (7/07)Metro Denver WIRED Region Workforce Competencies Analysis Report (7/07)

Contact Information:Contact Information:

Vicky LeaVicky Lea

Aerospace Industry CoordinatorAerospace Industry Coordinator

Metro Denver WIRED InitiativeMetro Denver WIRED Initiative

1445 Market St.1445 Market St.

Denver, Colorado 80202Denver, Colorado 80202

303.620.8083303.620.8083

Vicky.Lea@metrodenver.orgVicky.Lea@metrodenver.org