Brainstorming Session on Childcare as Workforce Strategy To Take Place Sept. 19
The MADE in Central PA Livability Action Team is focused on finding innovative solutions to make our region more livable to increase the pool of qualified available workers. Childcare has come up again and again in discussions about recruitment and retention, especially in the post-pandemic landscape. Across the region dozens of centers have closed, wait-lists are up to 18 months long, and a labor shortage of qualified care providers have all contributed to the decreasing ability of our communities to take care of the families that keep us in business.
There are state and regional efforts to engage employers in the effort to address the severe need for more access to childcare and higher quality early childhood education opportunities. As manufacturers, our workforce is uniquely impacted by the childcare crisis, and we need to organize ourselves to connect with these efforts to have our voices heard and needs met. We need coverage not just for the typical 9-5 workers, but also for shifts outside of traditional hours. We need care in locations convenient to our workforce, making this a regional issue rather than something a single employer can tackle alone. That’s why we are inviting you to be part of a solution that makes sure our industry is represented in the efforts to change the way things are done.
MADE in Central PA is hosting a brainstorming session Monday, September 19th from 10:00am to 12:00pm via Zoom. During this session we will discuss childcare as a workforce strategy, the business case for investing in childcare, and brainstorm what an ideal solution for employers would look like on a local and regional scale. The goal of this meeting is to establish a vision for employer involvement in regional childcare and early childhood education opportunities.
Register to attend and get the Zoom link using the Eventbrite here.