Just returned from a tour of the New Balance factory in Skowhegan where we held our monthly meeting of the Somerset County Workforce Development Team. The team includes educators, business folks, employers, and various groups involved in workforce development. The mission of the group is to provide a regular forum for dialogue between educators and employers about the needs of the labor force.
So what kind of skills does New Balance look for in prospective employees? According to HR director Sheila Williams, New Balance seeks employees who can work as part of a team and who have excellent communication skills. Interestingly enough, those are exactly the same qualities that the WorkReady program emphasizes. Touring the factory floor, I saw first hand how their employees work in teams to produce a high quality product. Whether affixing that recognizable N on each sneaker or cutting out pieces of leather, each team takes obvious pride in their work and of the Made in the USA label. Part of our mission in adult education is to provide opportunities for workforce training. Today's tour confirmed that "soft skills" like communication and teamwork are a critical part of vocational training.
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