January 31, 2011 (WFXL) - Albany Technical College has launched a job skills survey to regional businesses and industries.
“Albany Tech produces valuable, employable graduates. In order to ensure we stay on par with our mission, we want to gather feedback from our area’s businesses and industries to see if we need to improve or build on any specific areas,” said Dr. Anthony Parker, President of Albany Tech.
The survey was designed to specifically assess the workforce needs of employers within Southwest Georgia over the next five to 10 years. Albany Tech services a seven-county service delivery area in Southwest Georgia, including Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, Randolph, Clay, Calhoun, and Baker Counties.
Officials say they have done the survey in the past and it has helped shape the way they educate students.
“New programs come out of this opportunity in the past truck driving, fire science, pharmacy tech, biomedical electronics. Programs that have been extremely successful in the last five years have come out of another employee needs survey that we did,” said Dr. Parker.
Administrators say the workforce needs assessment takes about 10 minutes to complete, it's a list of 30 questions, asking things like; “Whether or not your business has any plans to expand,” or if “Albany Technical College is providing prepared applicants.”
The survey has gotten praise Albany’s Economic Development Commission, which works to recruit new businesses to come into the area.
“Often times the number one factor, when a company is looking to choose a new investment or move to a new location is workforce. Do we have a qualified trainable and affordable workforce in the market that we are considering?” said EDC President Ted Clem.
Clem says there two major industries, that could see major growth in Southwest Georgia.
“One being, logistics warehousing, they see as being a growth opportunity for this market and also manufacturing, primarily in the food and beverage industry, that's a growth area for this market,” said Clem.
All area businesses and industries are invited to take the survey. Just go to www.albanytech.edu and click on the survey tab on the left hand side of the home page. Then, select the link for Workforce Needs Assessment Survey.
To view the article on WFXL's website click here.