Geospatial Education: A National Priority
In September 2004, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a series of investments totaling more than $6.4 million to address the workforce needs of the geospatial technology industry. The DOL is seeking to understand and implement industry-identified strategies to confront critical workforce shortages. It has listened to employers, industry association representatives and others associated with the geospatial technology industry regarding some of their efforts to identify challenges and implement effective workforce strategies. DOL's Employment and Training Administration is supporting comprehensive business, education, and workforce development partnerships that have developed innovative approaches that address the workforce needs of business while also effectively helping workers find good jobs with good wages and promising career paths in the geospatial technology industry. This set of workforce solutions is based on the geospatial technology industry's priorities that address issues such as:
- Expanding the pipeline of youth entering the geospatial technology industry.
- Helping alternative labor pools gain industry-defined skills and competencies.
- Developing alternative training strategies, such as apprenticeships, distance learning and accelerated training, for training geospatial technology professionals.
- Developing tools and curriculum for enhancing the skills of geospatial technology professionals for nationwide distribution.
- Enhancing the capacity of educational institutions to train to industry-defined competencies.
- Developing industry-defined career ladders and lattices and corresponding competency models and curriculum.
- Developing strategies to retain and help incumbent workers move into higher level positions.
- Assisting the transition of individuals from declining industries to high growth industries by building on their existing skills and training them for high growth geospatial technology occupations.
