Workforce Development
The workforce in the Eastern Region exceeds 400,000 and includes an abundant supply of skilled workers, industrial labor, entry-level employees, and clerical workers. A wide variety of available job skills is fueled by a diverse manufacturing base, and augmented by 12,000 annual military discharges from bases within the Region. Educational institutions - including East Carolina University (a state university with more than 25,000 students), three four-year colleges and 11 community colleges of the nationally recognized North Carolina Community College System provide an excellent pool of full and part-time workers. These same schools also offer a broad range of specialized training in a number of high-growth vocational areas.
Workforce Development Network
The Workforce Development Network in Eastern North Carolina consists of nationally recognized organizations and programs to offer businesses a talented and trained workforce. These partnerships are made up of Workforce Development organization, economic developers, industry and academia to insure that industry needs are met. These initiatives in the Eastern Region ensure that employers can achieve the skilled workforce they need to be successful in the global economy.
The network provides recruiting, screening services and training programs through the local workforce development boards. The boards and community colleges also provide:
- Focused Industry Training
- Productivity and Efficiency Programs
- Job Posting and Recruiting
- Transition Aid for Layoffs and Closings
- Labor and Industry Trends
- Skills Testing
- Incumbent Workforce Development Grant Program
- Tailored Training Services
Various types of support for workforce development programs are offered through Community College training opportunities, the NC Employment Security Commissions and the Job Link Career Centers across the region.
Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board
Serving :Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, Wayne Counties
Turing Point Workforce Development Board
Serving: Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson Counties
Region Q Workforce Development Board
Serving: Pitt County
WorkKeys
Offered through Eastern Region community colleges, WorkKeys is a program administered by ACT - an internationally recognized educational assessment and testing organization. WorkKeys helps identify aptitude and build on it. The program can help your business find and keep the right people in the right roles. It can help you pinpoint the skills of current employees to maximize their potential and value. The program helps employers and employees benefit each other by lowering the risk of job loss for employees and helping employers develop employees’ skills.
WorkKeys is an assessment system that measures real-world skills, and is the basis for the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). The NCRC is awarded based on assessment scores in foundational workplace skills such as applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information.
Many larger companies have implemented WorkKeys programs to improve their ability to match people with jobs, to help motivate employees and help increase productivity.
For more information on workforce programs and assistance, visit EasternRegionWIN.org or contact Kathy Howard at howard@nceast.org.
For specific programming in your county contact:
Carteret County:
Carteret Community College
Perry Harker
252-222-6205
Craven County:
Craven Community College
George T. Kramer
252-638-7289
Duplin County:
James Sprunt Community College
Renita Allen Dawson
910-296-2467
Edgecombe County:
Edgecombe Community College
Randi Dikeman
252-823-5116 Ext 249
Greene/Jones/Lenoir Counties :
Lenoir Community College
Susan Gale
252-527-6223 Ext 706
Nash County:
Nash Community College
N.E.W. Careers Enhancement Project
Charlene Harrison
252 451-8389 or
Carla Dunston for
252-451-8324
Onslow County:
Onslow County Schools
Joan McGinnis
910-347-3141 x225
Pamlico County:
Pamlico Community College
Glenn DeMunck
252-249-1851 Ext 3015
Pitt County:
Pitt Community College
Mary Paramore
252-493-7216
Wayne County:
Wayne Community College
Diane Ivey
Wayne Occupational Readiness Keys for Success (WORKS)
919-739-7003
dtivey@waynecc.edu
Wilson County:
Wilson Community College
Barbara Boyette
252-246-1340
