A survey will ask Red Deer area businesses what kind of education challenges they are finding in today’s workforce and what they are trying to do about them.
The Red Deer Chamber of Commerce’s Education Policy Committee will gather information on needs, priorities, and issues surrounding education and its economic impact. The 10-question survey looks at everything from hiring based on schooling to high school completion rates.
Danielle Klooster, manager of Policy, Advocacy and Communications, said the committee is keen to learn how much education is an issue to businesses.
“Even though the labour force changed with the recession, we did hear from employers that were looking for specific skill sets or specific degrees,” Klooster said. “There were still shortages in various fields.”
Businesses can finish a survey online at www.reddeerchamber.com or by dropping into the chamber office at 3017 Gaetz Ave. The survey will also be on hand at Tuesday’s chamber mixer at Harbour Spas from 5 to 7 p.m.
Klooster anticipates the survey will be available for about a month and then the report results will be forwarded to the chamber board for approval.
Results of the survey will be released in May.
The input received will assist the committee in developing meaningful policy, which is then lobbied to various levels of government as well as local school divisions.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com