The US requires massive upgrades to its advanced communication systems. Due to workforce shortages rampant in the construction trade due to COVID and residual impact from the recession in 2009-2011, many companies are not prepared to produce the needed requirements and fiber mileage to complete this daunting task.
Workforce Evolved and the NextGen Workforce Coalition aim to aid these industries in workforce development goals through the expansion and convergence of telecom and IT technology:
- Wireless
- Broadband
- Renewable Energy
- Low Voltage Infrastructure
- Audio Visual
- Fiber Optics
- Agriculture
- Information Technology
The coalition plans to provide these services to the regional growth clusters defined in the 6 regions of the EDA – Seattle, Denver, Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The goal will be to build out sustainable training facilities, either from the ground up, or through college and university partners that provide structured telecommunications training and certification. Learning Alliance Corporation (LAC), a member of the coalition, is an organization that trains and places 1,100 telecommunications technicians a year. Currently, the wireless industries workforce makes up 4% of LAC alumni and growing. That methodology will be shared and articulated to the centers of excellence built in each region that will provide trained and certified technicians to multiple states that support their CEDS growth initiatives of broadband, fiber, 5G, and wireless deployment.