We Develop Talent Pipelines for Current and Future Workforce Needs.
Northwest Arkansas (NWA) is home to a diverse, growing workforce of over 250,000 employed by our dynamic and world-class companies. Led by the success of Walmart Stores, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., and J.B. Hunt Transportation, Inc. and hundreds of other world-famous companies, our region has experienced tremendous job and population growth over the past 20 years. Workforce education and skilled labor supply are key workforce development issues regionally and nationally.
The Northwest Arkansas Council is committed to furthering economic development initiatives in Northwest Arkansas. To support one of the nation’s fastest-growing economies, the Council works closely with the Chamber to invest in attracting top talent. The Life Works Here initiative is a multifaceted campaign that seeks to capture the attention and interest of those looking to leave the hectic life of major U.S. cities by bringing to light the lifestyle and career benefits offered here. Candidates connect with a Northwest Arkansas talent ambassador, who provides concierge services such as networking with area recruiters, sharing information about current opportunities and open jobs, and fielding questions about the region.
The Chamber also partners with the Council to work with area recruiters and human resource managers to help them find qualified candidates. Not only does the Council share candidate information, but they also provide recruiters with the resources and tools to attract talent through their Northwest Arkansas recruiter’s tool kit (images, videos, our cost-of-living calculator and promotional zines).
K2J (Kindergarten to Job) Connect brings educators and students from across the region together with local employers to showcase career pathways in various industries. Past featured career fields include hospitality, heavy industrial, construction, culinary, and business administration. The educator sessions include discussions on creating new talent pipelines and solutions to employer’s workforce needs to bring discussions and examples back into the classroom. The student sessions highlight in-demand careers and multiple pathways to achieve success in Northwest Arkansas with a strong focus on fields that do not require college degrees. Your sponsorship includes a seat at this invitation-only meeting and shows your support helping address workforce issues within our community.
Promoting Career & Technical Education Programs
Along with being recognized as one of the best places in the nation to live and work, Northwest Arkansas is also known for its outstanding private and public educational institutions. We partner with these organizations to help promote their education programs that enable students to understand, choose and prepare for careers with job skills that our local businesses need.
Rogers Public Schools offers a wide variety of career and technical programs branded as “Launch. Your Future.” These programs equip students with academic, technical and employability skills that will prepare them for college and career pathways. Many of the programs also offer industry certifications that verify a proficiency level of skills recognized by business and industry.
Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) is a comprehensive, public two-year college that serves and strengthens the community through learning for living. NWACC offers a variety of programs designed to move students into the job market in a minimum amount of time. NWACC offers an Associate of Arts degree for students transferring to a four-year institution, Associate of Applied Science degrees leading to employment opportunities, and many other certificate programs such as nursing, respiratory therapy, physical therapist assistant, and many more. The Culinary Arts Program offers a variety of certificate and degree options in a small and student friendly environment at Brightwater, A Center for the Study of Food.
Located in Springdale, Northwest Technical Institute is nationally accredited by The Council on Occupational Education (COE). The qualified instructional staff provides students the opportunity, challenge, and training to meet their individual needs in today’s world of advancing technology. The Adult Education Center at NWTI services the community by providing free instruction to adults who wish to improve their academic or computer skills, obtain an Arkansas High School Diploma (GED), learn English (ESL), or study for citizenship. Individuals under the age of 18 may be admitted under Arkansas law guidelines.
Located in Springdale and Gentry, Business and Industry Training is a member-driven network of Northwest Arkansas business and industry partners cooperating to develop a highly trained workforce. They provide training and development for all employees and employers using a 'building block' approach to skill development and training. BIT offers training in multiple areas and specializes in hands-on, short-term industrial maintenance for Electrical Systems, Motor Controls, PLC's, Mechanical Drives, Pneumatics, Hydraulics, CNC and Robotics. They also offer ARC Flash Electrical safety, Confined Space, OSHA 10 & 30, soft skills, fork lift, Microsoft Excel, CPR/first aid and more.
