EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine August 2017 | Page 30

One of the big questions we need to ask ourselves is, “How do
region is low, like $37,800. If we help the underemployed workers
we move forward without leaving anyone behind?” How do we achieve their maximum potential in both productivity and income,
transition workers from industries that have declining labor forces the local economy will improve tremendously.
to others with better growth opportunities?
Our objective as a region is to guide local workers to careers.
We are presenting a solid and viable strategy. But like any
other strategy, it is subject to environmental forces. For that reason,
To this effect, one of CareerSource FV’s objectives is to stop only one of the most important skills we can instill in our labor force is
brokering jobs between businesses and job seekers. We will also life-long learning. Life-long learning is the ability, and disposition,
identify and match careers between the two. The difference may to never stop learning, looking to seek knowledge beyond formal
sound trivial – after all, embarking workers in careers means education. This will make our workers more adaptable to the
getting them jobs. The distinction is that jobs merely offer short- interesting and unexpected changes ahead.
term solutions for businesses and employees. Careers paths on
Our region is poised for great things. Now it’s up to us to make
the other hand are long-term oriented. They empower workers to the best of our situation and our resources. Together, we can turn
gain skills and experience that can be used beyond a single job. this area into one of the most prosperous in the country.
Finding the right careers for workers increases productivity and
reduces instances where workers must be retained. Businesses
benefit from this approach greatly, as it reduces their turnover and
corresponding training costs.
Focusing on career development (not job placement) also helps
reduce the number of underemployed workers. Focusing on this
target group is important because it is not useful to achieve a low
unemployment rate, like 4.3% today, if the average income in the
Robin King became the President & CEO of
CareerSource Flagler Volusia in 2013, after a 24-
year tenure in this organization. Robin rose to the
leadership role after holding a series of key positions;
her experience includes grant writing, project
management, planning, management analysis,
procurem