JACKSON, Miss. (Courtesy: AccelerateMS) -  AccelerateMS, in partnership with the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB), is proud to release the Board’s most recent recommendations aimed at strengthening Mississippi’s workforce, expanding training opportunities, and preparing our state for the jobs of tomorrow.

Between now and 2035, Mississippi will need to train 19,000 additional skilled workers to meet the demands of industry, economic growth, and infrastructure projects. The new SWIB recommendations are designed to ensure the state is ready for this challenge by focusing on expanding training capacity, accelerating pipelines so more trained workers are ready faster, and improving quality and outcomes so businesses find employees with the right skills at the right time.

Generally, SWIB recommendations are intended to bring attention to areas of need or deficiency. Among the steps adopted by SWIB are establishing a Workforce Pell Task Force to expand access to short-term training programs aligned with employer needs; partnering with business and education leaders to identify skill gaps, strengthen programs, and better connect Mississippians to high-quality jobs; creating a State Office of Apprenticeship to provide stronger local oversight, align policies with Mississippi’s unique workforce needs, and respond more quickly to industry demands; and directing resources to programs and credentials that lead to training growth in priority occupations and economic growth sectors identified by AccelerateMS.

“Mississippi stands at a critical crossroads,” said Patrick Sullivan, Chairman of SWIB. “By working together with urgency and focus, we can remove barriers, strengthen partnerships, and deliver measurable results for workers, employers, and our economy. Success in workforce development means training more and more people into the good jobs our economy is demanding.”

AccelerateMS encourages industry leaders, training providers, and community partners to align with these recommendations, share best practices, and expand efforts that prepare Mississippians for high-demand careers.

Read the full list of recommendations here.

About AccelerateMS

AccelerateMS serves the people and businesses of Mississippi by developing and deploying workforce strategies to connect individuals with transformative, high-paying careers. By leveraging resources and partnering with organizations that hold complementary missions, AccelerateMS effectuates positive change, creating sustained individual, community, and statewide economic prosperity.

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