Inaugural Statewide Workforce and Talent Team Convening Presents a Unified Approach to Economic Growth

State business, workforce, and education leaders hosted the first-ever Statewide Workforce and Talent Team (SWATT) Convening in December, an event to streamline workforce development efforts across the Commonwealth.

The SWATT Convening brought together more than 250 leaders from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet, Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, Kentucky Department of Education, Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), and many more, underscoring the commitment of these groups in addressing workforce needs, supporting businesses, and fostering economic growth.

During his opening remarks, Governor Andy Beshear shared his enthusiasm for this new initiative, the first of its kind in the nation.

“The reason we’re here is because workforce training has shifted,” Beshear said.

As Kentucky’s strong economic growth continues to create more opportunities and challenges to build and attract talent, he emphasized that this streamlined approach to addressing workforce needs will help generate new ideas and actionable steps to “support businesses that are betting their futures on us.”

What Is SWATT?

Introducing the SWATT mission, Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet Secretary Jamie Link stressed the importance of this collaborative, coordinated approach and the event’s goal of creating innovative workforce strategies that address the needs of the Commonwealth’s diverse industries and regions.

Kentucky Chamber Foundation Senior Vice President Beth Davisson, Secretary Link, Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts, and Dr. Ryan Quarles, president of KCTCS, outlined the origin and purpose of SWATT, focusing on its role in simplifying workforce systems and creating a seamless experience for businesses seeking talent solutions.

The group stressed coordination, communication, and trust are the keys to making SWATT successful. “This could be a generational impact on what we do over the coming months and year,” Link said.

Each leader highlighted what their organizations bring to SWATT. Watts noted the Chamber is a convener and acts as a bridge between government and the business community.

Watts said that the Chamber strives to meet businesses where they are and solve their most pressing issues through its advocacy efforts and programs. From our work with businesses, we have known for a long time that workforce is their number one issue, she added.

As the largest workforce training organization in the state, Dr. Quarles emphasized the importance of building stronger partnerships to advance the Commonwealth’s workforce to best serve the talent needs of business.

A National Snapshot on Unified Business Services

Workforce and talent attraction leaders from Deloitte, Jordan Harris, Kyle Forrest, and Lara Wigmore, provided a national perspective on workforce trends and spoke on the ways Kentucky is becoming the new model for workforce and economic development.

Forrest noted five trends that are having, not just a national, but a global impact on the workforce: the shrinking workforce, increased retirements within older generations, immigration, education-job demand mismatch, and technology. He advised leaders to “look at all demographic challenges as a collective set, not one at a time” to resolve challenges.

Wigmore noted how the state’s strategic location, business-friendly environment, and skilled workforce diversify Kentucky’s economy and increase its competitiveness. “It’s a testament to your efforts,” she said. 

The Multi-Generational Mindset

“We have gone through more change in the past 30 years than we have experienced in our lifetime. And this is the slowest it will be for the rest of our lives,” said Marcie Merriman, cultural insights and customer strategy leader at Ernst & Young Americas, who was the keynote speaker.

She spoke on the rapid pace of societal and workplace change and how businesses can better understand the workforce they employ. 

Merriman highlighted that by 2030, millennials, Gen Z, and Generation Alpha will make up 75% of the workforce, driving major shifts in workplace dynamics and expectations. She discussed how generational trends influence the workplace, including shifts in financial priorities, mental health concerns, views on technology, and more.

Employer Perspectives: Assets and Barriers in Navigating Workforce Systems

A panel of employers representing key industries shared their challenges and barriers to engaging talent to expand their businesses. Jessie Schook of KCTCS, Dylon Baker of Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Susan Brewer of Gray Construction, and Ruth Moore of Bardstown Bourbon Company highlighted several ways education and workforce partners can help businesses, including skill development and strong partnerships with educational institutions.

Brewer said partnerships like with the Kentucky Chamber Foundation’s Bus-to-Business^® and Fair Chance Academy programs have been beneficial for her organization in connecting with educators, students, and untapped talent pools.

Baker emphasized the importance of making workforce resources more accessible and providing more education around those available resources, especially for small and medium-sized businesses that do not have the same resources as larger employers.

“Not knowing there’s an opportunity means there’s no opportunity,” Baker said, pointing to the need for improved partnerships and communication to ensure businesses can take advantage of opportunities to grow their talent.

He said businesses are not just consumers of the talent pipeline; they are active co-creators and trainers of talent.

The Next Era of Workforce Development

Kentucky Chamber Foundation Workforce Center Executive Director LaKisha Miller, Commissioner Mike Yoder of the Department of Workforce Development, and Beth Kuhn of Stonegate Strategies outlined strategies to align regional resources with statewide goals and foster collaboration and coordination.

During these breakout sessions, attendees shared best practices, discussed strengths and opportunities, and created unified goals for their geographical regions. Those goals included centralized services and resources, streamlined employer communications, business and community involvement, and more.

The SWATT Convening marked a transformative step toward uniting business, education, and workforce development under a shared vision. This collaborative framework aims to reduce barriers, enhance workforce solutions, and deliver tangible benefits to Kentucky’s businesses and communities.

Stay tuned to The Bottom Line for more updates on this effort.