2018 Findings

The quality of our current and future workforce is increasingly seen as the most important factor in our region’s economic growth and vitality. With more than 450,000 people in Asheville MSA and around ten million in the State of North Carolina, the need to build a strong workforce and talent pipeline is critical. The success of WNC and state depends on a workforce that is well educated, informed, and equipped with proper skills.

Motivation

In North Carolina, businesses are increasingly struggling to deal with a skills gap, between the types of skills needed for work and the types of potential workers available in the marketplace. As of September 2018, counties in the Asheville MSA continue to have the lowest unemployment rates of all counties in the state. As our residential population continues to grow in the region, so does the need for meaningful work.

67% of companies surveyed expect to grow in the next three years

Background

The Economic Development Coalition for Asheville Buncombe County, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Mountain Area Workforce Development Board, and over 20 regional partner organizations collaborated with the North Carolina Chamber and RTI to survey businesses across a 10-county region in Western North Carolina. The analysis asks how businesses expect to grow, the types of jobs, skills, training, and education they need in their future workforce, and where they are looking to find their future workforce. The purpose of the survey is to capture the critical skill needs of businesses over the next three years. Our goal is to identify solutions to close the skills gap and improve the workforce pipeline—which will ensure that companies in our area have the talent they need to succeed. With the data provided from this analysis, we can better align education systems, economic development initiatives, and address business needs so our region can continue to grow and thrive.

Summary

The key findings in this report describe the general consensus from the data. Based on the key findings, the following items were identified as the strongest takeaways from the State of the Workforce WNC Analysis:

• Businesses expect to grow
• WNC has a high concentration of small businesses with hiring challenges
• Employers rely on community college programs and are looking for candidates with associates’ degrees and professional certificates
• The region’s workforce has a mix of strengths and challenges that are consistent with national trends
• Skill gaps may exist due to supply and demand, interest, skills, education, and experience
• Family and friends’ networks are most commonly used for sourcing talent

Overall, Western North Carolina is well-suited to proactively address talent needs due to high-quality education resources, access to training, and a community that is focused on growing a strong talent pipeline.

Overall, the survey findings indicate many industries are projecting growth in the next three years. Therefore, the workforce pipeline will need to expand and be equipped with the right skills. The survey revealed multiple key conclusions that will help align the region’s workforce ecosystem.

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Working Group

FAQ

• When did the State of Our Workforce: Western NC survey run?
  • The survey collected responses from March 14 – May 31, 2022. The survey is now closed.
  • The State of Our Workforce: Western NC survey was also operated in 2018.
• Who took the survey?
  • We encouraged one individual at each employer who was most informed about their organization’s current and future hiring needs – often a chief executive, director of human resources, or small business owner – to take the survey.
• Were there any incentives to participate in the 2022 survey?
  • Yes. Participants who completed the survey were able to enter to win gifts and experiences from WNC makers and businesses, including Kimpton Hotel Arras, Biltmore Estate, Navitat Canopy Adventures, Hot Springs Resort and Spa, East Fork, Highland Brewing, and Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn.
• Will survey responses remain anonymous?
  • Yes. All responses to the State of Our Workforce: Western NC talent analysis will remain anonymous.
  • Respondents were not asked to provide their names, the names of their organization, or any contact information.
  • All responses will be presented in aggregate, and single responses will never be presented on their own.
  • Respondents were able to provide their email addresses to enter to win prizes in our participation raffles, but those email addresses were separated from all response data, were used for picking a winner, and will never be presented with results.