Benefits of a Skilled Workforce

Which is better, obtaining a college degree from a university or earning a credential from a reputable training program to aid someone in securing a family sustaining career? Studies indicate that a college degree is still the best path – but certified credentials can provide some of the same opportunities with less cost and time commitment. The focus at KC Scholars is to honor both short term credentials and college degrees. Regardless of the path one chooses, KC Scholars strives to ensure that everyone has a path to a good paying job, with benefits, that enables them to care for themselves and their loved ones.

In the last six years, KC Scholars has awarded more than 6,000 scholarships and 75% of their scholars are on track to graduate on time – this is 3x the national average for students with similar demographics.

KC Scholars has also developed a program for adults who decide that a four-year degree isn’t the best path forward for them. Bringing together the three key stakeholders - employers, educators, and employees - they launched Great Jobs KC, a comprehensive workforce development program. Through Great Jobs KC, KC Scholars now provides adults, 17 and older, with tuition-free job-training programs that lead to good paying jobs in high-demand industries.

Great Jobs KC also strongly aligns with changes that are happening in the Kansas City workforce. Companies are no longer just relying on a candidate’s degree when considering them for a position. They see the value in job training programs, internships, and apprenticeships that help candidates develop soft skills and master the occupational skills they will need to succeed in their jobs.

“The most successful companies this year will be the ones ‘more comfortable assessing candidates solely on their ability to perform in the role, rather than their credentials and prior experience,’” said Emily Rose McRae, an HR-focused senior director of research at analyst firm Gartner when quoted for a CNBC article, “Employers may finally stop caring about where you went to school, we have been using education as a proxy.”

How does the KC Scholars program provide the KC region with trained and job-ready staff?

They start with being selective about their education partners. They strive to align with training partners that are best in class and offer training programs that lead to credentials in good paying jobs where someone can earn $45,000-$85,0000 per year plus benefits.

Not every education institution or training partner can be a part of Great Jobs KC. They only select training partners with strong success rates, meaning a high percentage of enrollees who both complete the program and earn their credential. KC Scholars also wants their program participants to leave with not only a certification or credential, but with a job that provides a family-sustaining wage.

The Great Jobs KC program is successful because KC Scholars not only funds the job training for those who qualify, but they provide access to scholar support resources that help remove barriers that might keep someone from being able to complete the program. Each participant has a one-on-one scholar advocate that supports them through training and into their first year of employment. They support them by assisting with access to community resources that can provide transportation, childcare, and/or financial help that the person may need to help them complete their program. KC Scholars also assists with job placement by forging partnerships with numerous area businesses.

In addition to providing access to support resources and training partners with a high success rate, program participants are mentored and provided training throughout their time with KC Scholars to ensure that they succeed. This additional training includes workshops in the soft skills employers want as well as life skills that ensure not only job success but life success. Training includes effective time management, resume writing and interviewing, resolving workplace conflicts, and budgeting.

When people have access to skilled training and employment opportunities in their communities, they tend to stay local, buy homes, raise families, and contribute to the region’s economic growth. Likewise, when employers have a more diverse, more educated, and highly trained workforce, they make investments in the community, they build more facilities, and hire more people as the years go on.

Kansas City is in a unique position today and poised for greatness in the next decade. Businesses such as Amazon, Panasonic, and Palmolive are ready to invest billions of dollars in our region, making qualified and trained employees in high demand. World Cup 2026 infrastructure build out and business growth opportunities will create even more need than ever for quality employees.

KC Scholars, with their Great Jobs KC program has, in less than one year, successfully enrolled 2,000 people and helped 325 graduates on their path to a better life for themselves and their families. Their goal is to put over 1,000 Kansas Citians in good paying jobs by the end of 2023. That kind of impact is what will help propel Kansas City toward its goal of a more diversified, skilled, and self-sufficient workforce and community.