February 2008 Forum

University of Alaska “Best Bet for Local Hire”
Featuring President Mark Hamilton

Was held Tuesday, February 12th
Hotel Captain Cook

Over the last few years the University of Alaska has geared its resources to meeting the training needs to provide the workers for high demand jobs. The University of Alaska has partnered with the leaders from various industries to identify the high demand skills necessary for their businesses and then worked with them to design and develop the necessary training programs. It has been a tremendous success. However, that is only taking care of the current need. President Hamilton is concerned that the post gas-line economy is going to demand highly skilled people for jobs that have not yet been clearly identified. His point is that we must identify those skills now, and begin the training for related jobs so we have an Alaskan work force in place when the gas line is developed.

He is now beginning the dialogue with associated industries to identify the skills their businesses will need to build the work force of the future. If Alaska does not have the necessary skills, the jobs of our future will go. It’s an exciting time for people working – and those preparing to work – in Alaska. There are several large-scale projects, such as a natural gas pipeline and mining ventures, on the horizon. High-growth industries, such as health care, are in critical need of qualified employees. And the state is looking at the imminent retirement of many employees from the “baby boomer” generation. Combined, these factors present nearly limitless opportunities for Alaska workers, both now and in the future.

That’s the good news. The challenge Alaska is up against is providing enough trained, qualified workers to meet all the demand. As the largest, most comprehensive, post-secondary education and training institution in Alaska, the University of Alaska (UA) is uniquely poised to meet this challenge.

Click on image for larger version

This program was underwritten by

Alaska Executive Search