JCLA Forecasts 'The Future of Work in Erie County'
Jefferson Civic Leadership Academy releases annual report
Where do you see yourself five years from now? Ten?
If you've ever been interviewed for a job, chances are you've been asked something of the sort, any maybe you had no idea whatsoever (e.g. "I don't even know what I'm having for dinner tonight.") Nonetheless, it's definitely important to ask ourselves these questions as individuals, and it's even more vital to ask ourselves these questions collectively as a community — because without goals, there can be no direction.
Earlier this month, the 2021 Jefferson Civic Leadership Academy, a cohort of 26 young area professionals between the ages of 25 and 45, released their in-depth report on "The Future of Work in Erie County," in which they identified the ways employment patterns will change going forward and how to advantageously position Erie County's residents for success ahead of that change.
To arrive at their findings, the JCLA cohort canvassed dozens of civic leaders, business owners, and economic developers, researched growth strategies from other economically distressed communities, and consulted scores of scholarly articles and journals on the subject. Throughout the report, the authors demonstrate possible collaborations between the public and private sectors, recommend meaningful legislative changes, dispel misconceptions about Northwest Pennsylvania, predict the demand for job roles both existing and yet-to-exist, and promote regional perks that employers might leverage to attract and retain talent.
The report is divided into five critical focus areas as identified by the cohort:
- Education
- Industry
- Infrastructure
- Placemaking
- Quality of Life
The following members comprised the 2021 JCLA:
- Jacob Bartko, Jefferson Educational Society
- Susannah Faulkner, SSJ Neighborhood Network
- Matt Flowers, Ethos Copywriting
- Thomas Glasoe, Food for Tots, L.L.C. and St. John's Lutheran Church
- Melinda Hall, Dean of St. Paul Cathedral
- Paul Hirsch, Cleveland State University
- Brody Howard, Corry Higher Education Council
- Victor Hudson, Edinboro University
- Michelle Jaggi, Erie County Government
- Alyssa Johnson, Erie County Public Library
- Stephanie King, United Way of Erie County
- Tammie Lentz, GECAC
- Jake Marsh, Penn State Behrend
- Samuel McGarvey, Northwest Bank Union City
- Justin Norris, Wabtec
- Chelsea Oliver, Pace Success Coaching
- Sara Provencio, Corry Redevelopment Authority
- Ashley Russell, Penn State Behrend
- Jennifer Snopko, Erie Insurance
- Megan Stevenson, Preferred Systems, Inc.
- Corinne Thomas, Erie County Department of Human Services
- Adam Welsh, Erie Reader/Jefferson Educational Society
- Larry Wheaton, WQLN
- Karin Wickwire, UPMC
- Brian Wilking, Erie Insurance
- Ben Wilson, Thomas P. Miller & Associates
Read the full report by clicking on the link below.
Matt Swanseger can be reached at mswanseger@eriereader.com
