Youth develop life skills, and make healthy choices and become successful adults.  Adults have opportunities to develop skills necessary for family sustaining incomes and meaningful work.

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• % Applicants to jobs deemed "qualified” by employer survey.
• % Businesses and services limited by lack of qualified workers.

• % Population >25 years old without a high school degree (Chart).
• % Workforce working more than one job (Chart).
• Ratio of the number of students graduating from high school to the number of students who entered 9th grade three years previously.
• % High school seniors planning a “13th year” of school (Chart) .
• % 16 -19 year olds not in school or work (Chart) .
• % Population with chemical dependency.
• % Reporting “money problems” How’s Your Health, North Hawaii (Chart).

• Only 33% of Big Island employers surveyed by Hawaii Community College in 1999 reported being "satisfied with the overall skill of applicants.”
• Similar results were noted in the 2002 survey.  No recent survey has been conducted.
• Local workforce is lagging in required education and life skills training.
• Minimal career and technical training opportunities in Hawaii County.
• Many small businesses are unable to afford employee training and development.
• Workforce Investment Board is taking the lead to address workforce training.
• Unemployment rate is low with rapid growth of population and increase of construction businesses, retail businesses and hospitality industry.
• Cost of living and especially housing is a barrier to recruiting and retaining qualified workforce in many job segments.
• Low unemployment rate is forcing employers to be more creative in recruitment efforts.

• Distance learning and computer training
• Linkages between schools and employers Increase opportunities for youth and adults to continue education School-based programs to provide on-going help with homework and adult and peer mentoring1
• Combine basic education and career and technical training in the educational system.

• Increse Organizational Links:

  • The Mayor’s Task Force on Employment and Training (subcommittee of the Workforce Investment Board) in partnership with the Big Island Workplace Connection has been very aggressive in addressing some of the barriers to employment.
  • West Hawaii employers and construction trades increased career awareness for high school students and the public at a 2006 Kealakehe High School career and construction fair.
  • On-going collaboration, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Development, Hawaii Community College, UH at Hilo.

  Address Barriers:

  • County Mass Transit has increased Hele On bus routes (Pahala to South Kohala) and additional Hilo to South Kohala buses tied to work schedules. Also working on developing  “park and ride” lots and “Kokua Zones,” allowing for free bus transportation for all riders.
  • Reintegration project – assisting ex-offenders to transition back into the labor force; seeking legislative funding for more education / training projects.
  • County housing continues development of affordable housing project in Waikoloa.
  • Rent-a-Room initiative – received County Council’s approval to allow homeowner’s to keep their homeowner’s exemption when renting out a spare bedroom.
  • Big Island Drug Court having a positive impact.

  Career Development:

  • Huiana Internship program – worksite job readiness component for high school juniors and seniors.  Program quite successful on the East side of the Big Island, effort to expand to the West side.
  • Linked with Hawaii Community College to provide adult college classes.
  • Marine Education Certificate Program now offered at Hawaii Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training Services.
  • Hawaii Community College – culinary program continues to be very successful.
  • Hawaii Community College – construction trade apprenticeships programs: carpenters, plumbing, sheet metal and electricians.
  • Hawaii Community College – Hospitality Training Institute (Hilo/Kona).
  • Hawaii Community College – Registered Nursing Program (Associate Degree) offered in Kona and Hilo.
  • Construction Academy at Kealakehe High School (18 students) and at Laupahoehoe High School (13 students).
  • Emergency Response Academy cosponsored by Hawaii Island Rural Health Association and Emergency Medical Services.
  • Collaboration to establish radiology technician classes at North Hawaii Community Hospital and Kona Hospital.
  • First to Work program (welfare to work) early intervention and mandatory participation.
  • Workforce Development Division has created convenient one-stop employment and training centers at locations now named Big Island Workplace Connection – Workforce Development Division.

  Recruitment:

  • On-line statewide recruitment systems – employers able to post job orders, screen and communicate with job seekers.   Job seekers view job openings, post resumes and setup virtual recruiter for specific occupations at http://www.hirenethawaii.com.
  • Workforce Development Division (WDD) held a job fair in Las Vegas in an effort to recruit former Hawaii residents which seven South Kohala resorts participated.  Response from job seekers was minimal.
  • 2006 Forestry job fair conducted for new sawmill operation in Ookala.
  • North Hawaii Education and Research located in Honokaa and linked with U.H. at Hilo.
  • Expansion of 21st Century learning grant to Waimea, Kohala and Honokaa.
  • The Hawaii Small Business Development Center offering onsite “job profiling” training and assistance to Big Island Businesses

Increase Awareness:

• Increase awareness of existing opportunities for job training, continuing education, career development and technical programs through Hawaii Community College.
• Increase awareness of model programs, which link high schools with employment training.

Obtain Additional Data:

• Annual survey of employers’ perception of employee qualification.
• Annual employer survey of skills and positions needed.
• Annual employee survey of satisfaction with work environment.

Inventory and Build on Existing Resources:

• Inventory of existing education and training opportunities.
• Inventory of existing job opportunities and projected job opportunities.

Increase Organizational Links:

• Strengthen link between businesses and schools to inform schools of core skills and positions, which businesses need.
• Provide opportunities for job shadowing, career investigation, and mentoring, and develop youth entrepreneur curriculum.
• Develop Junior Achievement programs with businesses in North and West Hawaii.

Identify and Address Barriers:

• Affordable housing located near job sites.
• Traffic jams.
• Lack of computer literacy and computer access – job seekers still lacking in computer skills sufficient enough to complete on-line applications and use on-line recruitment systems, especially in outlying areas.
• Limited access to Workforce Development Division services in rural areas.
• Federal funding for the Workforce Investment Act youth programs reduced – limited services for North and West Hawaii youth.
• Impact of foreign worker program - more employees utilizing H2A/H2B programs and immigrant worker issue.  The H2A temporary agricultural program establishes a means for agricultural employers, who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers, to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature.  The H2B nonimmigrant program permits employers to hire foreign workers to come to the U.S. and perform temporary nonagricultural work, which may be one-time, seasonal, peak load or intermittent.
• Job growth strong in construction and service industry, but limited growth in science and technology occupations.
• Vocational training limited on West side – challenge in finding qualified instructors, or programs non- existent, such as certified nurse aide, commercial driver license, automotive repairs.
• Homeless population needs more aggressive interventions in relation to their barriers to employment: substance abuse and mental health issues.
• Work commute distance and travel time continues to increase.

Promote Effective Programs:

• Identify effective high school life skills curriculum and employment skills curriculum and disseminate to Big Island schools.
• Revive Waikoloa youth summer mentoring program.
• Expand the successful Emergency Response Academy island-wide and every summer.
• Develop more career and technical programs.
• Identify and partner with residents and part-time residents experienced in teaching professions and link with high school and colleges.
• Develop career pathways in high schools that teach workplace skills, and provide career shadowing through partnerships with employers.

Promote Effective Practices:

• Encourage employee skill development.

Promote Effective Policies:

• County policies requiring developers to contribute to infrastructure and affordable housing.

Improve Health Systems:

• Increase opportunities for training in health fields.
• Offer scholarships and flexible hours to nurses interested in upgrading to registered nurses or other health careers.
• Health providers partner with Hawaii Community College to offer internships for nursing graduates after licensing.

Acknowledge Champions and Progress:

• Identify, acknowledge and recognize employers who encourage training and life-long learning.
• Identify, acknowledge and recognize schools that link with career development and businesses.