OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – A special task force created by the Governor recommends that Oklahoma needs a single entity driving workforce development.
On Tuesday, Governor Kevin Stitt received final recommendations from the Workforce Transformation Task Force in a briefing from the Task Force’s co-chairs Chad Mariska and president and CEO of The State Chamber of Oklahoma, Chad Warmington.
Governor Stitt created the Workforce Transformation Task Force via executive order in January with orders to pinpoint challenges in Oklahoma’s workforce development system and identify areas in need of improvement.
“As more companies move to and expand in Oklahoma, I am committed to ensuring Oklahoma’s workforce is prepared for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Governor Stitt. “I appreciate the Task Force’s work over the last few months and look forward to taking the next steps to improve workforce development in our state.”
Among other recommendations, the Task Force’s primary takeaway is that Oklahoma needs a “single owner” of workforce development that serves as a statewide coordinating body for agencies and stakeholders involved in workforce and talent development.
“There is a lot of good work being done along Oklahoma’s workforce pipeline, but there is nobody that walks into work every day with the job of coordinating the state’s workforce development entities. That needs to change. We’re proud of and excited about the work we’ve done so far with the Task Force and look forward to continuing to find workforce solutions to help Oklahoma prosper,” said Warmington.
“This is a fundamental part of our broader economic development for the state. Workforce is a critical component to companies that are looking to expand into Oklahoma. The proposal that we’ve made in this report points out the way forward to improve our workforce and ultimately to grow our economy. It will help bring new businesses to Oklahoma,” said Chairman Mariska.
State Chamber leaders say the Task Force’s recommendations are in line with SB 621, a workforce bill currently moving through the Oklahoma Legislature. They say together, the plans would set Oklahoma up for workforce success for years to come.
The Task Force’s recommendation can be read in full here
