Workforce Development

The Board of Higher Education will establish a workforce development Task Force composed of the Department of Workforce Development, Secretary of Economic Development, Commonwealth Corporation, and a representative of the Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board Association which has two purposes. First, the Task Force will periodically conduct and analyze labor market studies in order to identify labor market trends in the Commonwealth. Next, using this information, the BHE shall assess the system’s capacity to meet those labor market demands. Working with campuses in the system, the BHE shall encourage expanding existing programs and creating new programs to meet the demands and reduce the number and size of programs that have too much capacity.

The new Task Force will be led by a Workforce Coordinator of the BHE whose sole job it is to work with community and state college presidents and deans, as well as industry, adult basic education, and community-based organizations to develop certificate and degree programs in high skill, high demand occupations.

The BHE shall develop statewide standards and encourage statewide collaborations for training for high demand high skill occupations in targeted industries and create more community college certificate and degree programs that teach those skills. and prepare individuals for employment in those industries.