Governor, business leaders talk about skills gap

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo visited Tech Collective, Rhode Island’s information technology and bioscience organization, on Feb. 22 for a roundtable discussion with business leaders about skills that matter.

“Our economy has momentum but we must do more to create a pipeline of educated and skilled workers,” Raimondo said in a statement. “To reinvigorate our economy, we need to build skills that matter for jobs that pay.”
According to the governor’s office, the Rhode Island economy created more than 8,000 jobs last year, the most created in one year since 2000. The jobless rate also dropped more than any other state in the nation.

The leaders discussed ways to create a pipeline of skilled workers to support the innovation economy, including starting early with computer science programming in primary schools. They also expressed support for experiential learning programs at colleges and universities to give students hands-on experience that will prepare them for jobs that are available now.
“Tech Collective was proud to welcome Governor Raimondo to meet with our members across Rhode Island’s high-tech industries today. The governor is leading several initiatives to build a strong STEAM pipeline in the state, including P-Tech and the integration of [computer information studies] across secondary education. We are excited to be working with her and our industry employers to advance forward Rhode Island’s economic and workforce development opportunities,” Tom Falcone, executive director, Tech Collective, said.
The P-Tech initiative is designed to allow public school students to receive workplace training and a community college education while attending high school.
Representatives from a variety of companies, including Automated Business Solutions, OSHEAN Inc., Amica Mutual Insurance Co., AIPSO, Atrion Networking Corp, Beacon Mutual Insurance Co., Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp., Envision Technology Advisors LLC, FM Global and Datarista, attended, among others.

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  1. This was a wonderful forum hosted by the Tech Collective with both business leaders and the Governor both truly engaged in improving the tech employment environment in our state. Kudos to the Governor for reaching deep into the tech employer’s market and kudos to the Tech Collective for making this happen. I look forward to more constructive dialog in the future.

    Pat Sabatino
    CEO
    Datarista