Workforce Development                                                                                   

The Workforce Development spoke focuses on identifying, creating, and clearing pathways for women into better jobs. Utah women have traditionally experienced high levels of occupational segregation, with large percentages of the total female workforce in roles that offer low pay, little prestige, and minimal room for advancement. Many women also take career breaks and need support in entering the labor market as returning adults. The Workforce Development spoke will include educational providers, community organizations, employers, government entities, and individuals with lived experience dedicated to helping women prepare for the careers that are best for them, in a wide variety of industries and sectors. The goal is for more Utah women to be able to find sustainable and significant ways to provide financially for themselves and their families. To learn more, listen to the spoke leaders discuss the work on this 15-minute podcast.

Spoke Leaders

Bold Vision & Goals

To make Utah a place where more girls and women can thrive, the Workforce Development spoke leaders and partners have crafted the vision and goals below. Spoke leadership and UWLP team members are currently working to collect baseline data that will assist in adding numbers to the changes we want to see by 2026 and 2030.

Vision: Increase the confidence and competence of all Utah women so they can find successful employment that works for themselves and their families.

Goals: 

1. Increase number and percentage of women in high quality roles within high growth industries. [Metric Forthcoming]
2. Increase the number of companies offering formal return-to-work positions to 15 by 2026 and 30 by 2030. [Metric Forthcoming]
3. Increase the percentage of quality part-time job opportunities for women (i.e., jobs that offer some degree of flexibility, pathways to full-time work over the long term, and allow women to develop valuable, transferable skills). [Metric Forthcoming]
4. Increase the percentage of low-income, single mothers, women who have experienced violence or trauma, women from underserved populations, etc. that receive restorative opportunities and stay continuously employed for at least one year. We seek to increase this percentage of women by 7% year over year. [Metric]
5. Change Utahns’ agreement (understanding and perceptions) in the following areas: [Metric Dashboard]
   1. I am aware of and know how to access resources and support to attain a quality job. [Increase women’s agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
   2. I believe that I am currently employable, or I can become employable within the next 12-24 months. [Increase women’s agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
   3. My current circumstances permit me to maintain successful employment over the next 5 years. [Increase women’s agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
   4. I believe that in Utah I can find successful employment that works for me and my family. [Increase women’s agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]

Thriving Statement: Women thrive when they have the confidence and competence to find successful employment that works for them and their families.

Partners

Working Group Leaders

• Career Reentry & Part-Time Work: Shay Baker (Program Manager, Return Utah, State of Utah) & Samantha Aird (Program Specialist, Utah System of Higher Education)
• Community Resources: Danette Pulley (Vice President of Community Growth, Marketstar)
• Initiative Programs: Heather Smith (Real Estate Agent, Omnia Real Estate)
• Reskilling & Retraining Programs: Heather Nemelka (Global Head of Stakeholder Relations, Spinnaker Support)
• Top Occupation Share: TBD