From Plan to Action: Workforce Convening Centers on Coordinated Training Strategies
Photo Credit: Alaska Works Partnership
What’s a plan without action? Alaska’s Workforce Future, a document released in March by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) and the Alaska Workforce Alliance (AWA), reflects extensive collaboration, with feedback from industry representatives, job seekers, educators, and workforce partners.
To advance the plan’s proactive approach to meeting employment demand, DOLWD and several partners will host a 2025 Workforce Convening. At the event, the plan will be the focus point of discussions about school-to-employment pathways, training programs, and job opportunities around the state.
Partnerships Paying Off
DOLWD and AWA are collaborating with the University of Alaska, the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), and the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) to advance the strategies and goals outlined in Alaska’s Workforce Future. The full plan is available on the Alaska Workforce Investment Board website.
“It is encouraging to see the continued commitment by Alaska’s public and private sectors to work together to support Alaska’s workforce,” says DOLWD Commissioner Catherine Muñoz. “I encourage Alaska’s business community, unions, and job seekers to participate in the October Convening to advance the strategies and goals in Alaska’s Workforce Future.”
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney adds, “By aligning our programs with industry needs and working together with state and regional partners, we are ensuring that Alaskans are prepared for the careers that drive our economy.”
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“Alaska is gaining more interest from investors, not just domestically but on the international stage,” says DCCED Commissioner Julie Sande. “Growth across industries requires a trained workforce, and we are proud to partner with the Department of Labor to ensure a skilled workforce is ready to unleash Alaska’s potential.”
Cari-Ann Carty, president and CEO of the Alaska Safety Alliance and its subsidiary, the Alaska Workforce Alliance, praises the depth of collaboration among schools, trainers, and employers that went into the Alaska’s Workforce Future plan. “The upcoming Workforce Convening is an important opportunity to bring those voices into the conversation and ensure every sector and region is represented,” she says. “AWA helps carry forward the shared vision by fostering communication and alignment, while each partner continues advancing their priorities and strengths on the ground. Broad participation is essential if we want strategies that reflect all of Alaska and move this work forward.”
DEED Commissioner Deena Bishop agrees, saying, “Alaska moves forward through cooperation and preparedness. Helping students prepare for meaningful careers is a central responsibility we take on as educators.”
A joint letter from AWA, DOLWD, DCCED, DEED, and the UA System formally endorsed the strategies and goals of Alaska’s Workforce Future. The letter highlights results already seen through partnerships, including higher graduation rates in career-focused education, regional program alignment, and renewed interest in registered apprenticeships.
DOLWD, AWA, and the Alaska Business Education Compact will host the Workforce Convening on October 14 and 15, coinciding with the Alaska Career and Technical Education Professional Development Conference. The convening will formally roll out Alaska’s Workforce Future and explore marketing Alaska’s employment opportunities both in-state and beyond.
Interested participants can register online to attend the Workforce Convening. Sessions will be held Tuesday, October 14, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hotel Captain Cook and Wednesday, October 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UAA Student Union.
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