SKILL PANEL REPORT California's Water Industry - Cuyamaca ...

SKILL PANEL REPORT California’s Water Industry5CAN COMMUNITY COLLEGES CLOSETHE SKILL GAPS IN THE WATER INDUSTRY?PanelFindingsIssues• Closing water industry skill gaps• Mechanical, electrical and construction trade skills• Grade 1-2 operators need to replace retiring grade 3-5 operators• Foundation and workplace skills• Math• Communications• Project management• Industry awareness• Networking• Life long learning• Initiative• Do agencies want entry level workers they can train themselves, or journeyman level?• Hands-on facilities require industry supportRecommendations• Develop hands on technical training opportunities• Perform cost benefit analysis of immersion, facility based, blended learning models• Stakeholders who benefit should provide funding• Design curriculum for Millennials that develops foundation skills• Partner with industry associations to provide mid-career pathwaysComments“There’s not a shortage of operators.The shortage is hands-on electricians,machinists and carpenters.”“We let electricians walk off ships in SanDiego and don’t hire them because theydon’t have water industry experience.”“50% of my hands on people come fromthe military.”“We hire Operators in Training and theybetter have their T1. The communitycolleges don’t cater to hands on ability --electrical shops, pump disassembly.”“There could be a centralizedapprenticeship program, but could theagencies come to an agreement?”“Agencies vary. Some hire entry level anddevelop them; some hire journey level.”“The state has lots of T1’s and T2’s, butit’s the T3, 4 and 5 operators who areretiring.”“Should we grow our own, or take a riskon an outside entity?”“MWD has scaled back education.”21